Italian grammar
Mi fa male, mi fanno male
Say what hurts using mi fa male / mi fanno male.
From the scene Mi fa male la testa (My head hurts)
In short
The part that hurts is the subject: mi fa male for one thing, mi fanno male for several.
- my head hurts (one thing) mi fa male la testa
- my feet hurt (several) mi fanno male i piedi
- does your stomach hurt? ti fa male lo stomaco?
- do they hurt a lot? ti fanno molto male?
- nothing hurts (me) non mi fa male niente
Your turn
Which one goes with my feet hurt (several)?
Options: mi fa male la testa · ti fa male lo stomaco? · mi fanno male i piedi
Show answer
my feet hurt (several) → mi fanno male i piedi
How it works
Fare male works backwards, like piacere: the thing that hurts is the subject.
Good to know
One thing → mi fa male (la testa). Several things → mi fanno male (i piedi).
my head hurts (one thing) mi fa male la testa
Nuria
Male, Javi. Mi fa male la testa.
Bad, Javi. My head hurts.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Male, Javi. (blank).
Options: Ti fa male lo stomaco · Mi fa male la testa · Mi fanno male i piedi
Show answer
Nuria
Male, Javi. Mi fa male la testa.
Bad, Javi. My head hurts.
my feet hurt (several) mi fanno male i piedi
Nuria
No, lo stomaco no. Ma mi fanno male i piedi.
No, not my stomach. But my feet hurt.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No, lo stomaco no. Ma (blank).
Options: mi fa male la testa · ti fa male lo stomaco · mi fanno male i piedi
Show answer
Nuria
No, lo stomaco no. Ma mi fanno male i piedi.
No, not my stomach. But my feet hurt.
does your stomach hurt? ti fa male lo stomaco?
Javi
Ti fa male lo stomaco?
Does your stomach hurt?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)?
Options: Ti fa male lo stomaco · Mi fa male la testa · Mi fanno male i piedi
Show answer
Javi
Ti fa male lo stomaco?
Does your stomach hurt?
do they hurt a lot? ti fanno molto male?
Javi
Ti fanno molto male?
Do they hurt a lot?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)?
Options: Ti fanno molto male · Mi fa male la testa · Mi fanno male i piedi
Show answer
Javi
Ti fanno molto male?
Do they hurt a lot?
nothing hurts (me) non mi fa male niente
Watch out
Say mi fa male la testa, with la, not "la mia testa"; and the plural needs fanno: mi fanno male i piedi.
Common mistake
Not fa here. Javi means her feet (i piedi).
Ti fanno molto male?
Do they hurt a lot?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| my head hurts (one thing) | mi fa male la testa |
|---|---|
| my feet hurt (several) | mi fanno male i piedi |
| does your stomach hurt? | ti fa male lo stomaco? |
| do they hurt a lot? | ti fanno molto male? |
| nothing hurts (me) | non mi fa male niente |
More lines from the story
- NuriaVa bene, va bene. A me non fa male niente!Okay, okay. Nothing hurts me!
- JaviTutto. Ho quattro lavori.Everything. I have four jobs.