These contain some examples of vulgar language.

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I know it's not very nice to say but no one can deny that Italians are a nation of hypochondriacs. They love to wallow in their poor health and jump at any excuse to go to the doctor so they can complain about it some more.

Doctors
How are you feeling?

(* = familiar, ** = very familiar, *** = vulgar, R = plain rude, Lit. = Literally)


Doctors

Il dottore GP.

Un macellaio A butcher, but also used for dentists.

Uno/Una strizzacervelli (**) Lit. Brain-shrinker. Psychologist/psychiatrist.

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How are you feeling?

Mi fa male qui It hurts here. (Where? Here! Too ill to be eloquent)

Sono tutto/a chiuso/a (*) Lit. I'm all closed up. I have a head cold.

Sto da cani (*) I feel like a dog. I'm really ill.

Mi sento come se mi fosse passato sopra un camion (*) I feel as if I've been run over by a truck. Ouch, very sore all over.

Mi sento morire (*) I feel like dying.

Sono in punto di morte (*) I'm at point of death. An exaggeration, of course, but an effective way of getting some sympathy and TLC.

Non vado da un mese (**) I haven't gone for a month. (That would be to the toilet.)

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ArgumentClassDrinkingFamily
FoodFriendsGoing outHealth
InterjectionsMoneyMoodsMusic
Play up/Play downPoliticsProfessionsPulling

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