Italian · Body & Health
"Pain" in Italian: dolore
il dolore
Pain in Italian is il dolore (doh-LOH-reh). You often say ho dolore a… for a body part, or simply fa male. Dolore is the noun; fa male is the everyday verb phrase.
At the pharmacy
Ho un dolore forte al ginocchio.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce dolore
Say it
doh-LOH-reh
/doˈlo.re/
Dolore stresses LOH: doh-LOH-reh. Keep both o sounds clear.
"Pain" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il dolore | the pain Default noun. | Default noun. |
| ho dolore a… | I have pain in… Ho dolore alla schiena. | Ho dolore alla schiena. |
| fa male | it hurts Very common spoken alternative. | Very common spoken alternative. |
| un dolore forte | a strong pain Intensity. | Intensity. |
How to use dolore in real life
- 1At the pharmacy
Ho un dolore forte al ginocchio.
I have a strong pain in my knee.
Dolore + body part with a.
- 2After the gym
Sento dolore alle spalle oggi.
I feel pain in my shoulders today.
Sento dolore is natural.
- 3Describing symptoms
Il dolore passa se mi siedo.
The pain eases if I sit down.
Il dolore as subject.
Mistakes English speakers make with dolore
Incorrect: Ho una pain al braccio.
Correct: Ho un dolore al braccio.
Use dolore, not the English pain.
Incorrect: Il dolore è nella mia testa male.
Correct: Ho dolore alla testa.
Say ho dolore a + body part.
Good to know
In Italian clinics and pharmacies, naming the dolore clearly helps more than a vague non sto bene. People often pair it with da quanto tempo? so be ready with a short timeline.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Explaining pain at a pharmacy counter
ChatPal
Dove senti il dolore esattamente?
Where exactly do you feel the pain?
You
Il dolore è qui, dietro l'orecchio.
The pain is here, behind the ear.
ChatPal
Da quanto tempo hai questo dolore?
How long have you had this pain?
You
Da ieri sera, più o meno.
Since last night, more or less.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Pain" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Pain" in Italian
How do I say I'm in pain?
Ho dolore or mi fa male—both are everyday.
Dolore or male?
Dolore is the noun; fa male is the verb phrase for it hurts.
How do I point to a body part?
Ho dolore a / al / alla + body part.
Is dolore formal?
No—doctors and friends both use it.
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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