Signification
Reporting a physical ailment.
Contexte culturel
The 'Colpo d'aria' is a widely held belief that a sudden draft of cold air causes headaches and neck pain. You will see Italians wearing scarves even in mild weather to prevent this. Pharmacists in Italy (farmacisti) are highly trusted and often act as a first point of medical contact for 'mal di testa' before a doctor is seen. The term 'La Cervicale' is often used interchangeably with 'mal di testa' if the pain is at the base of the skull, reflecting a national obsession with spinal health. Coffee is often seen as a cure for a mild headache in Italy, especially if taken with a bit of lemon juice (a traditional 'rimedio della nonna').
Drop the 'un'
Remember: 'Ho mal di testa', not 'Ho un mal di testa'. It's a very common beginner mistake!
Silent H
Never pronounce the 'H' in 'Ho'. It is purely a visual marker to distinguish it from 'o' (or).
Signification
Reporting a physical ailment.
Drop the 'un'
Remember: 'Ho mal di testa', not 'Ho un mal di testa'. It's a very common beginner mistake!
Silent H
Never pronounce the 'H' in 'Ho'. It is purely a visual marker to distinguish it from 'o' (or).
The 'Colpo d'aria'
If you mention a headache, expect an Italian to tell you to close the window!
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'avere'.
Io ___ mal di testa.
The subject 'Io' (I) requires the first-person singular form 'ho'.
Which is the most natural way to say you have a headache in Italian?
Come si dice 'I have a headache'?
'Ho mal di testa' is the standard fixed phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Perché non vieni al cinema? B: Mi dispiace, ___ mal di testa.
We use 'avere' to report the ailment.
Match the Italian phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are standard translations for different intensities.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Avere vs Fare Male
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIo ___ mal di testa.
The subject 'Io' (I) requires the first-person singular form 'ho'.
Come si dice 'I have a headache'?
'Ho mal di testa' is the standard fixed phrase.
A: Perché non vieni al cinema? B: Mi dispiace, ___ mal di testa.
We use 'avere' to report the ailment.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are standard translations for different intensities.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt's grammatically okay but sounds like a translation from English. 'Mi fa male la testa' is much more natural.
It's a shortened form of 'male' (pain/evil) used specifically in these health phrases.
You say 'Ho l'emicrania'. Note that this one *does* use an article.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
You can say 'Ho la testa pesante'.
No, 'Ho' already tells us it's 'I'. Italians usually drop the pronoun.
Yes, but 'Ho i postumi' is more specific for a hangover.
In these fixed phrases for ailments, we use the simple preposition 'di' without an article.
It's the medical term for headache. You'll see it on medicine boxes.
Yes, 'Ho spesso mal di testa' (I often have headaches) uses the singular for the general condition, but you can say 'I miei mal di testa sono forti'.
Expressions liées
Mal di pancia
similarStomach ache
Mal di gola
similarSore throat
Mal di schiena
similarBack ache
Mi fa male...
builds onIt hurts me...
Emicrania
specialized formMigraine
