I have a dry cough.
TOS-se SHK-ka — double 's', then double 'c' = 'k' sound. 'Tosse' = cough.
Specify the type of cough when consulting a pharmacist or doctor — it determines the treatment.
'Tosse secca' = dry cough (irritating, no mucus). 'Tosse grassa/produttiva' = productive cough (brings up mucus). Treatment differs: dry cough needs 'antitussivi' (cough suppressants); productive cough needs 'mucolitici' (expectorants) to thin mucus. Always specify which type you have.
Ho la tosse con catarro.
I have a cough with phlegm.
'Catarro' = phlegm/mucus — productive cough needing expectorants
Tossisco talmente tanto che mi fa male il petto.
I cough so much that my chest hurts.
Severe cough causing chest pain — needs medical assessment
La tosse mi sveglia di notte.
The cough wakes me up at night.
Nocturnal cough — important detail suggesting reflux or asthma
Italy has high rates of gastroesophageal reflux ('reflusso gastroesofageo') — a very common cause of chronic cough. Italian doctors routinely consider reflux when a cough persists more than 3 weeks. 'Spirometria' (spirometry) is the standard lung function test and is available in most Italian GP practices or pulmonology clinics ('pneumologia').