Medical Appointments & Healthcare System
Navigate the Italian healthcare system confidently
⚠️ EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY: This guide helps you communicate with healthcare professionals in Italian. It is NOT for self-diagnosis or medical advice. Always consult qualified medical professionals for health concerns. When I say "Non posso darti una diagnosi qui" - I mean it!
The Italian healthcare system (SSN - Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) provides universal coverage, but knowing the right words makes everything smoother. Start with your "medico di base" (general practitioner) for non-emergencies. Remember: "Pronto Soccorso" is only for true emergencies!
Healthcare System & Appointments
Vorrei prenotare una visita
I'd like to book an appointment
↻vor-RAY preh-noh-TAH-reh OO-nah VEE-zee-tah
Essential phrase
Il medico di base
General practitioner/GP
↻eel MEH-dee-koh dee BAH-zeh
Your first stop
ASL
Local health authority
↻Azienda Sanitaria Locale
Register here first
Pronto Soccorso
Emergency room
↻PROHN-toh soh-KOR-soh
True emergencies only!
Tessera sanitaria
Health card
↻teh-SEH-rah sah-nee-TAH-ree-ah
Always carry this
Specialista
Specialist
↻speh-chah-LEE-stah
Need referral
La ricetta medica
Medical prescription
↻lah ree-CHET-tah MEH-dee-kah
For medications
È urgente
It's urgent
↻eh oor-JEN-teh
Express urgency
Posso avere un appuntamento?
Can I have an appointment?
↻POHS-soh ah-VEH-reh oon ahp-poon-tah-MEN-toh
Polite request
Quanto prima possibile
As soon as possible
↻KWAHN-toh PREE-mah pohs-SEE-bee-leh
Time urgency
La guardia medica
After-hours doctor
↻lah GWAHR-dee-ah MEH-dee-kah
Nights/weekends
Il ticket sanitario
Co-payment fee
↻eel TEE-ket sah-nee-TAH-ree-oh
Small fee required
Visita privata
Private appointment
↻VEE-zee-tah pree-VAH-tah
Faster but costs more
Ambulatorio
Outpatient clinic
↻ahm-boo-lah-TOH-ree-oh
For routine visits
Ospedale
Hospital
↻oh-speh-DAH-leh
For serious issues
Farmacia di turno
24-hour pharmacy
↻far-mah-CHEE-ah dee TOOR-noh
Rotating schedule
Il codice fiscale
Tax code (needed)
↻eel KOH-dee-cheh fee-SKAH-leh
Required for SSN
Esame del sangue
Blood test
↻eh-ZAH-meh del SAHN-gweh
Common test
Radiografia
X-ray
↻rah-dee-oh-grah-FEE-ah
Imaging test
Lista d'attesa
Waiting list
↻LEE-stah daht-TEH-sah
Can be long
Healthcare System Navigation Tips
Public vs Private: SSN covers basics but waiting lists can be months. Private visits cost €100-200 but happen quickly.
Registration: You need a codice fiscale and residence permit to register with ASL for public healthcare.
Emergency codes: White (non-urgent), Green (urgent), Yellow (very urgent), Red (life-threatening)
Pharmacy first: Italian pharmacists can advise on minor ailments - try them before the doctor!
Dr. Amara's Navigation Tip:
Always ask "Quanto costa?" (how much?) before private appointments. Bring your tessera sanitaria everywhere. For non-EU citizens, travel insurance is essential!
Body Parts & Pain Location
Accurately describe where it hurts
Being specific about pain location helps doctors help you faster. "Mi fa male qui" while pointing works, but knowing the exact body part names prevents misunderstandings. Remember: "dolore" is pain, "male" is hurt/ache.
Essential Body Parts & Pain Description
Mi fa male...
My ... hurts
↻mee fah MAH-leh
Most useful phrase!
La testa
Head
↻lah TEH-stah
Mal di testa = headache
La gola
Throat
↻lah GOH-lah
Mal di gola = sore throat
Il petto
Chest
↻eel PEHT-toh
Important for emergencies
Lo stomaco
Stomach
↻loh STOH-mah-koh
Mal di stomaco
La schiena
Back
↻lah skee-EH-nah
Mal di schiena
Il ginocchio
Knee
↻eel jee-NOHK-kee-oh
Common injury site
La caviglia
Ankle
↻lah kah-VEE-lyah
Twisted = storta
Destra/Sinistra
Right/Left
↻DEH-strah/see-NEE-strah
Specify side
Qui
Here
↻kwee
Point and say
Pain Types to Describe
Dolore acuto: Sharp pain (like stabbing)
Dolore sordo: Dull pain (constant ache)
Dolore pulsante: Throbbing pain (comes in waves)
Bruciore: Burning sensation
Formicolio: Tingling/pins and needles
Symptom Description
Communicate what you're experiencing clearly
Duration matters as much as symptoms. "Da quanto tempo?" (for how long?) will be the first question. Answer with "Da..." plus time: "Da tre giorni" (for three days). Be honest about severity - Italian doctors appreciate directness.
Common Symptoms & Descriptions
Ho la febbre
I have a fever
↻oh lah FEHB-breh
Temperature elevated
Ho la tosse
I have a cough
↻oh lah TOHS-seh
Secca (dry) or grassa (productive)
Mi gira la testa
I'm dizzy
↻mee JEE-rah lah TEH-stah
Vertigo/dizziness
Ho nausea
I'm nauseous
↻oh NOW-zeh-ah
Feeling sick
Sono stanco/a
I'm tired
↻SOH-noh STAHN-koh
Fatigue
Non riesco a dormire
I can't sleep
↻nohn ree-EH-skoh ah dohr-MEE-reh
Insomnia
Da quanto tempo?
For how long?
↻dah KWAHN-toh TEHM-poh
Doctor will ask this
È peggiorato
It's gotten worse
↻eh peh-joh-RAH-toh
Worsening condition
Intensity Scale:
Lieve (mild) → Moderato (moderate) → Forte (strong) → Molto forte (very strong) → Insopportabile (unbearable)
Medical History & Context
Provide essential background information
Your medical history changes everything about treatment. Write down your conditions and medications in Italian before appointments. "Sono allergico/a a..." could save your life - memorize it with your specific allergies!
Medical History Essentials
Sono allergico/a a...
I'm allergic to...
↻SOH-noh ahl-LEHR-jee-koh ah
MEMORIZE THIS!
Prendo...
I take...
↻PREHN-doh
Current medications
Ho avuto...
I've had...
↻oh ah-VOO-toh
Past conditions
Sono diabetico/a
I'm diabetic
↻SOH-noh dee-ah-BEH-tee-koh
Chronic condition
Ho la pressione alta
I have high blood pressure
↻oh lah preh-see-OH-neh AHL-tah
Ipertensione
Sono incinta
I'm pregnant
↻SOH-noh een-CHEEN-tah
Changes all medications!
In famiglia
In the family
↻een fah-MEE-lyah
Family history
Nessun problema
No problems
↻neh-SOON proh-BLEH-mah
Healthy history
Common Allergies to Know
Penicillina: Penicillin
Aspirina: Aspirin
Lattice: Latex
Frutta secca: Nuts
Glutine: Gluten
Pharmacy & Emergency Essentials
Get medications and handle urgent situations
🚨 EMERGENCY PHRASES - MEMORIZE THESE 🚨
Aiuto!
Help!
↻ah-YOO-toh
Universal emergency word
Chiamate un'ambulanza!
Call an ambulance!
↻kee-ah-MAH-teh oon-ahm-boo-LAHN-tsah
118 is emergency number
È un'emergenza!
It's an emergency!
↻eh oon-eh-mehr-JEN-tsah
Express urgency
Non posso respirare
I can't breathe
↻nohn POHS-soh reh-spee-RAH-reh
Respiratory emergency
Pharmacy Essentials
Ho bisogno di...
I need...
↻oh bee-ZOHN-yoh dee
Request medicine
Senza ricetta
Without prescription
↻SEN-tsah ree-CHET-tah
Over-the-counter
La posologia
Dosage
↻lah poh-soh-loh-JEE-ah
How much to take
Tre volte al giorno
Three times a day
↻treh VOHL-teh ahl JOR-noh
Common dosing
Antidolorifico
Painkiller
↻ahn-tee-doh-loh-REE-fee-koh
Pain relief
Antibiotico
Antibiotic
↻ahn-tee-bee-OH-tee-koh
Needs prescription
C'è il generico?
Is there a generic?
↻cheh eel jeh-NEH-ree-koh
Saves money!
Cerotto
Band-aid
↻cheh-ROHT-toh
First aid basic
Common Over-the-Counter Medications
Tachipirina: Acetaminophen/Paracetamol (fever/pain)
Moment: Ibuprofen (pain/inflammation)
Aspirina: Aspirin
Maalox: Antacid (stomach issues)
Rinazina: Nasal decongestant
Pharmacy Culture:
Italian pharmacists are highly trained and can advise on minor ailments. Green cross = open pharmacy. "Farmacia di turno" rotates for 24-hour service - check the schedule posted on any pharmacy door.
Final Reminder: This guide helps you communicate with medical professionals - it is NOT medical advice. For any health concerns, consult qualified doctors. When symptoms are serious, go directly to Pronto Soccorso or call 118!
Ready to Navigate Italian Healthcare?
"Bravissimo! You now have the medical Italian to communicate your health needs clearly. Remember: this is for educational purposes - always see real doctors for real problems! Write down your allergies and medications in Italian, memorize the emergency phrases, and never hesitate to ask 'Può ripetere?' if you don't understand. Your health is too important for misunderstandings. In bocca al lupo!" - Dr. Amara