Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'avere lo stomaco' to describe the ability to face something repulsive, cruel, or morally difficult without flinching.
- Means: To have the fortitude to endure something unpleasant or disgusting.
- Used in: Discussing horror movies, difficult jobs, or questionable moral choices.
- Don't confuse: With 'avere fame' (being hungry) or simple physical courage.
Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:
Bedeutung
To be able to endure something unpleasant.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Historically, Italian doctors placed great emphasis on 'la digestione'. A 'strong stomach' was seen as a sign of overall constitutional health, which bled into the idiom. Neorealist films often required the audience to 'avere lo stomaco' to face the harsh, unvarnished reality of post-war Italy. In some traditional contexts, 'avere lo stomaco' can refer to the coldness needed to carry out a vendetta or a difficult family duty. Italians use this phrase on social media to comment on 'cringe' content or shocking news stories.
The 'Di' Rule
Always remember the 'di' before the verb. 'Ho lo stomaco *di* farlo' sounds native; 'Ho lo stomaco farlo' is a clear error.
Don't be too rude
Telling someone 'Hai un bel lo stomaco!' can be an insult, meaning they are cold or shameless. Use it carefully.
The 'Di' Rule
Always remember the 'di' before the verb. 'Ho lo stomaco *di* farlo' sounds native; 'Ho lo stomaco farlo' is a clear error.
Don't be too rude
Telling someone 'Hai un bel lo stomaco!' can be an insult, meaning they are cold or shameless. Use it carefully.
The 'Pelo' variant
If you want to sound really Italian when talking about a corrupt businessman, use 'pelo sullo stomaco'. It's a very common idiom in news and movies.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'avere lo stomaco' and the preposition 'di'.
Non so come tu ______ (presente) ______ guardare quel documentario sui ragni!
We use the subjunctive 'abbia' because of 'Non so come', followed by the fixed idiom and 'di'.
Which organ is used in the idiom for 'bravery' (heroic) vs 'endurance' (disgust)?
Per salvare qualcuno da un incendio serve il ______, per pulire una ferita serve lo ______.
'Fegato' is for courage, 'stomaco' is for enduring unpleasantness.
Match the sentence to the context.
1. 'Che stomaco!' | 2. 'Ho mal di stomaco.' | 3. 'Ho il pelo sullo stomaco.'
Each phrase uses 'stomaco' but in different literal or idiomatic ways.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Hai visto l'incidente?' B: 'No, non ______ di guardare.'
The context of an accident implies a need for endurance of a 'gross' or 'sad' sight.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Stomaco vs. Fegato
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenNon so come tu ______ (presente) ______ guardare quel documentario sui ragni!
We use the subjunctive 'abbia' because of 'Non so come', followed by the fixed idiom and 'di'.
Per salvare qualcuno da un incendio serve il ______, per pulire una ferita serve lo ______.
'Fegato' is for courage, 'stomaco' is for enduring unpleasantness.
1. 'Che stomaco!' | 2. 'Ho mal di stomaco.' | 3. 'Ho il pelo sullo stomaco.'
Each phrase uses 'stomaco' but in different literal or idiomatic ways.
A: 'Hai visto l'incidente?' B: 'No, non ______ di guardare.'
The context of an accident implies a need for endurance of a 'gross' or 'sad' sight.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, for physical strength use 'essere forte'. This is strictly for emotional or sensory endurance.
It is always 'lo stomaco' because 's' + consonant requires 'lo'.
Not inherently, but it can be used to criticize someone's lack of empathy.
No, 'avere la pancia' usually means having a 'pot belly' or being fat.
Stomaco = endurance of bad things. Fegato = courage to do hard things.
Yes, to describe your resilience: 'Ho lo stomaco di gestire situazioni di alta pressione'.
You say 'Non lo posso digerire' or 'Mi sta sullo stomaco'.
It's universal across all age groups in Italy.
Yes, 'avere lo stomaco' can mean you can handle spicy or heavy food without getting sick.
You could say 'essere schizzinoso' (to be picky/squeamish).
Verwandte Redewendungen
avere fegato
similarTo have courage.
avere il pelo sullo stomaco
builds onTo be unscrupulous/tough.
voltastomaco
relatedSomething that turns your stomach.
stare sullo stomaco
contrastTo be annoying/disliked.
Wo du es verwendest
Watching a horror movie
Luca: Vuoi vedere 'Saw' stasera?
Sara: No, grazie, non ho lo stomaco per tutto quel sangue.
Talking about a ruthless boss
Giulia: Il capo ha licenziato Anna senza preavviso.
Paolo: Mamma mia, ha proprio un bel lo stomaco.
Cleaning up a mess
Mamma: Il gatto ha vomitato sul tappeto.
Figlio: Io non ho lo stomaco di pulire, chiamo papà.
Medical school
Professore: Per fare il chirurgo, dovete avere lo stomaco.
Studente: Speriamo di farcela, professore.
Confronting a liar
Elena: Mi ha mentito guardandomi negli occhi.
Sofia: Che stomaco! Io mi sarei sentita malissimo.
Eating exotic food
Turista: In questo mercato vendono scorpioni fritti.
Amico: Bisogna avere lo stomaco solo per guardarli!
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of a 'Stomach' that can 'Stock' up on 'Stress' and 'Stuff' without getting sick.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a person with a literal iron shield over their stomach, walking through a swamp of green slime while smiling calmly.
Rhyme
Se lo stomaco vuoi avere, il disgusto devi tenere.
Story
Marco was a vet. On his first day, he saw a giant, muddy dog with a broken leg. His boss asked, 'Hai lo stomaco?' Marco took a deep breath, looked at the dog, and realized he had the stomach to help, even when it was messy.
In Other Languages
Most Romance languages use 'stomach' similarly. English uses 'to stomach' as a verb, whereas Italian uses it as a noun you 'possess'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write three things you *don't* have the stomach to do (e.g., 'Non ho lo stomaco di mangiare gli insetti').
Review this phrase whenever you see something gross on TV or hear about a 'cold' person in the news.
Aussprache
The 'o' in 'sto' is open (like 'pot'). The stress is on the first syllable of 'stomaco'.
Formalitätsspektrum
Non ho la forza d'animo necessaria per osservare quella ferita. (Medical/Injury)
Non ho lo stomaco di guardare quella ferita. (Medical/Injury)
Che schifo, non ce la faccio a guardare. (Medical/Injury)
Mi fa troppo voltastomaco, leva 'sta roba! (Medical/Injury)
Derived from the Latin 'stomachus', which itself came from the Greek 'stomakhos'. In ancient times, it referred to the throat or opening of the stomach. The metaphorical shift to 'endurance' comes from the idea of 'digesting' or 'swallowing' something bitter or hard.
Wusstest du?
In the 16th century, 'stomach' was also used in English to mean 'courage' (e.g., in Shakespeare), but English eventually shifted to 'guts'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Historically, Italian doctors placed great emphasis on 'la digestione'. A 'strong stomach' was seen as a sign of overall constitutional health, which bled into the idiom.
“Un uomo di stomaco era un uomo sano e forte.”
Neorealist films often required the audience to 'avere lo stomaco' to face the harsh, unvarnished reality of post-war Italy.
“I film di De Sica richiedono lo stomaco di guardare la povertà.”
In some traditional contexts, 'avere lo stomaco' can refer to the coldness needed to carry out a vendetta or a difficult family duty.
“In certi contesti, avere lo stomaco significa non tradire le emozioni.”
Italians use this phrase on social media to comment on 'cringe' content or shocking news stories.
“Commento: 'Ma come ha avuto lo stomaco di postare questo video?'”
Gesprächseinstiege
Hai lo stomaco di guardare i video di chirurgia su YouTube?
Secondo te, un politico deve avere il pelo sullo stomaco?
Avresti lo stomaco di mangiare insetti se fossi in viaggio?
Häufige Fehler
Ho lo stomaco per mangiare.
Ho fame.
L1 Interference
Lui ha molto stomaco di salvare il bambino.
Lui ha molto fegato di salvare il bambino.
L1 Interference
Non ho lo stomaco a fare questo.
Non ho lo stomaco di fare questo.
L1 Interference
Ho il stomaco forte.
Ho lo stomaco forte.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Tener estómago
Spanish often omits the article 'el' in the negative ('no tener estómago'), while Italian usually keeps 'lo'.
Avoir l'estomac solide / Avoir le cœur bien accroché
French shifts the metaphor to the heart ('cœur') for emotional grit more often than Italian.
Einen guten Magen haben
German focuses more on 'nerves' for the moral/cynical aspect.
度胸がある (Dokyou ga aru) / 心臓が強い (Shinzou ga tsuyoi)
The stomach (hara) in Japanese is the seat of anger or true intent, not endurance of disgust.
قلبه قوي (Qalbuhu qawi)
Complete shift from stomach to heart.
有胆量 (Yǒu dǎnliàng)
Uses the gall bladder instead of the stomach.
비위가 좋다 (Biwiga jota)
Includes the 'spleen' in the metaphorical digestive duo.
Ter estômago
Virtually no difference in usage or meaning.
Spotted in the Real World
“Bisogna avere lo stomaco per fare quello che facciamo.”
Discussing the brutal reality of the Camorra crime syndicate.
“Non ho più lo stomaco per queste feste.”
Jep expressing his weariness with the vapid Roman high society.
“...aveva lo stomaco di sopportare le miserie del cambiamento.”
Describing the resilience of the Sicilian nobility during the Risorgimento.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners think 'having stomach' means wanting to fill it.
If you want food, use 'fame'. If you are watching a surgery, use 'stomaco'.
Learners think 'heart' is for all emotions.
Heart is for kindness/love. Stomach is for the 'nasty' stuff.
Häufig gestellte Fragen (10)
No, for physical strength use 'essere forte'. This is strictly for emotional or sensory endurance.
usage contextsIt is always 'lo stomaco' because 's' + consonant requires 'lo'.
grammar mechanicsNot inherently, but it can be used to criticize someone's lack of empathy.
practical tipsNo, 'avere la pancia' usually means having a 'pot belly' or being fat.
comparisonsStomaco = endurance of bad things. Fegato = courage to do hard things.
basic understandingYes, to describe your resilience: 'Ho lo stomaco di gestire situazioni di alta pressione'.
usage contextsYou say 'Non lo posso digerire' or 'Mi sta sullo stomaco'.
comparisonsIt's universal across all age groups in Italy.
cultural usageYes, 'avere lo stomaco' can mean you can handle spicy or heavy food without getting sick.
usage contextsYou could say 'essere schizzinoso' (to be picky/squeamish).
basic understanding
