Italian · Body & Health
"Doctor" in Italian: medico
il medico
Note: also: il dottore / la dottoressa
The Italian word for doctor is il medico (MEH-dee-koh). When you talk to a doctor directly, call them dottore if it's a man or dottoressa if it's a woman: Buongiorno, dottoressa. Your family doctor is il medico di base or il medico di famiglia.
Calling in sick to work
Oggi non vengo, ho un appuntamento dal medico.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce medico
Say it
MEH-dee-koh
/ˈmɛ.di.ko/
The stress falls on the first syllable: MEH-dee-koh. English speakers often stress the middle because of "medical", but meh-DEE-koh sounds wrong to Italians. The e is open, like the e in "bed".
"Doctor" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il medico | doctor The neutral word for the job, used when you talk about a doctor. | The neutral word for the job, used when you talk about a doctor. |
| il dottore / la dottoressa | doctor How you address a doctor face to face, and common in casual speech: vado dal dottore. | How you address a doctor face to face, and common in casual speech: vado dal dottore. |
| il medico di base | family doctor, GP The doctor you register with in the Italian national health service. | The doctor you register with in the Italian national health service. |
| la guardia medica | out-of-hours doctor service Who to call at night or on weekends when your own doctor is closed. | Who to call at night or on weekends when your own doctor is closed. |
How to use medico in real life
- 1Calling in sick to work
Oggi non vengo, ho un appuntamento dal medico.
I'm not coming in today, I have a doctor's appointment.
Use dal (da + il) when you go to a person: dal medico, dal dentista.
- 2In the waiting room
Scusi, quando arriva il medico?
Excuse me, when does the doctor arrive?
Medico names the job when you talk about the doctor, not when you greet one.
- 3Feeling unwell on holiday
Ho la febbre da due giorni, forse devo chiamare un medico.
I've had a fever for two days, maybe I need to call a doctor.
Da + a length of time means "for" and takes the present tense: da due giorni.
Mistakes English speakers make with medico
Incorrect: Buongiorno, medico!
Correct: Buongiorno, dottore!
Medico names the job, but it is not a way to address someone. Face to face, say dottore or dottoressa.
Incorrect: Vado al medico.
Correct: Vado dal medico.
Going to a person's place uses da, not a: vado dal medico, vado dalla dottoressa.
Good to know
In Italy, dottore and dottoressa are not only for doctors. Anyone with a university degree can be called dottore, so you may hear it used for pharmacists, lawyers, or office managers. People registered with the national health service choose a medico di base, who is the first person to see for most health problems.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Seeing a doctor at a clinic in Naples
ChatPal
Buongiorno, sono il medico di turno. Mi dica, che problema ha?
Good morning, I'm the doctor on duty. Tell me, what seems to be the problem?
You
Buongiorno, dottore. Ho mal di gola e un po' di febbre.
Good morning, doctor. I have a sore throat and a bit of a fever.
ChatPal
Da quanti giorni? Ha già preso qualcosa?
For how many days? Have you already taken anything?
You
Da ieri. Il mio medico di base è in ferie, per questo sono qui.
Since yesterday. My family doctor is on holiday, that's why I'm here.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Doctor" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Doctor" in Italian
Should I say medico or dottore?
Both mean doctor. Medico is the neutral word for the job, and dottore is how you address a doctor or mention one casually: devo andare dal dottore. For "I need a doctor", say ho bisogno di un medico.
What do you call a female doctor in Italian?
Address her as dottoressa. When you talk about her, say la dottoressa or il medico. Some people now also say la medica, but it is less common.
What is the plural of medico?
I medici. The c softens to a "ch" sound in the plural (MEH-dee-chee), so don't write medichi.
How do I book a doctor's appointment in Italian?
Say Vorrei prenotare una visita (I'd like to book an appointment). Una visita here is a medical check-up, not a social visit.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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