Italian · Body & Health
"Sick" in Italian: malato/a
malato/a
Sick in Italian is malato (mah-LAH-toh) masculine and malata feminine. Mi sento malato and sto male are everyday ways to say you feel ill.
Calling work
Oggi resto a casa: sono malato.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce malato/a
Say it
mah-LAH-toh
/maˈla.to/
Malato stresses LAH: mah-LAH-toh. Soft single t. Malata is mah-LAH-tah.
"Sick" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| malato / malata | sick, ill Agrees with the person. | Agrees with the person. |
| sto male | I feel sick / unwell Very common. | Very common. |
| mi sento malato | I feel sick Self-description. | Self-description. |
| giorno di malattia | sick day Work/school. | Work/school. |
How to use malato/a in real life
- 1Calling work
Oggi resto a casa: sono malato.
I'm staying home today: I'm sick.
Sono malato.
- 2Checking on a friend
Sei malata da ieri?
Have you been sick since yesterday?
Malata feminine.
- 3Clinic waiting room
Molti pazienti sembrano malati.
Many patients look sick.
Plural malati.
Mistakes English speakers make with malato/a
Incorrect: Sono sick.
Correct: Sono malato / malata. / Sto male.
Use malato/a or sto male.
Incorrect: Ho malato.
Correct: Sono malato. / Sto male.
Use essere or sto male, not avere malato.
Good to know
Italians often say sto male before naming a diagnosis. Pharmacies are a first stop; malato on a work message is understood without long detail.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Canceling plans because of illness
ChatPal
Tutto bene? Sembri malato.
Everything ok? You look sick.
You
Sì, sono malato: meglio non uscire.
Yes, I'm sick: better not to go out.
ChatPal
Riposati. Se sei ancora malato domani, avvisa.
Rest. If you're still sick tomorrow, let us know.
You
Grazie, lo faccio.
Thanks, I will.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sick" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sick" in Italian
Malato or sto male?
Both work; sto male is very spoken.
Feminine?
Malata.
I feel sick to my stomach?
Mi gira lo stomaco / sto male di stomaco.
Sick day?
Giorno di malattia.
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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