Italian · Body & Health
"to hurt" in Italian: fare male
fare male
Note: "it hurts": mi fa male
To hurt in Italian is fare male. Mi fa male la testa means my head hurts. Keep both parts: fa male / fanno male.
Pharmacy
Mi fa male la gola da ieri.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce fare male
Say it
FAH-reh MAH-leh
/ˈfa.re ˈma.le/
Fare male: FAH-reh MAH-leh. Mi fa male is mee fah MAH-leh.
"to hurt" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| fare male | to hurt Infinitive set. | Infinitive set. |
| mi fa male | it hurts (me) One body part. | One body part. |
| mi fanno male | they hurt (me) Plural body parts. | Plural body parts. |
| fa male qui | it hurts here Pointing. | Pointing. |
How to use fare male in real life
- 1Pharmacy
Mi fa male la gola da ieri.
My throat has hurt since yesterday.
Mi fa male.
- 2After gym
Mi fanno male le gambe.
My legs hurt.
Fanno male plural.
- 3Kids' warning
Non toccare—fa male!
Don't touch—it hurts!
Fa male warning.
Mistakes English speakers make with fare male
Incorrect: Mi male la testa.
Correct: Mi fa male la testa.
Keep fare: mi fa male.
Incorrect: Mi fa la testa.
Correct: Mi fa male la testa.
Need male as well as fa.
Good to know
Italians name the body part after mi fa male: mi fa male lo stomaco. Pharmacists expect that pattern. For emotional hurt you may hear mi fa male also, but this page is the physical set phrase.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Describing pain at the doctor's
ChatPal
Dove ti fa male?
Where does it hurt?
You
Mi fa male la schiena quando mi piego.
My back hurts when I bend.
ChatPal
E le gambe? Ti fanno male?
And your legs? Do they hurt?
You
No, solo la schiena.
No, only the back.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to hurt" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to hurt" in Italian
My head hurts?
Mi fa male la testa.
Plural body parts?
Mi fanno male le…
Must both words appear?
Yes—fa/fanno + male.
It hurts here?
Mi fa male qui (see also that phrase page).
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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