tossire
/tosˈsi.re/
The English word 'coughing' translates to the Italian tossire.
While tossire is the standard verb meaning 'to cough', the specific noun for 'a cough' is la tosse. If you want to describe a single, sudden bout or a coughing fit, you can use the phrase un colpo di tosse. For a more intense or persistent situation, the expression essere preso dalla tosse is used to mean 'to be plagued by coughing'.
Meaning: a cough (noun)
Which one should you use?
The verb tossire is used to describe the action of coughing, whereas the noun la tosse refers to the cough itself. If the coughing is milder or softer, the informal verb tossicchiare is often used instead.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /tosˈsi.re/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The Italian word tosse is a cognate with the English medical term 'tussive', which describes medication used to treat a cough.
- The expression essere preso dalla tosse implies being 'taken' or 'seized' by the cough, as if the cough were an external force acting upon you.
- In Italian, the phrase un colpo di tosse literally translates to 'a blow of cough', using the word colpo which usually refers to a strike or a hit.
Examples in context
- Tom iniziò a tossire.Tom began coughing.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tossire after the verb 'began'.Tatoeba #5345671 by Guybrush88, translation #2236004 by CK
- Io ho sentito tossire.I heard coughing.This sentence shows how to use tossire after the verb 'heard'.Tatoeba #2433303 by Guybrush88, translation #2245908 by CK
- Ha continuato a tossire.He kept coughing.This sentence demonstrates using tossire with the verb 'continued'.Tatoeba #8482615 by Guybrush88, translation #8480920 by CH
- Mi scuso per il disturbo, ma potrebbe coprire la bocca quando tossisce?I apologize for the inconvenience, but could you cover your mouth when coughing?
- Giorgio è raffreddato e continua a tossicchiare.Giorgio has a cold and keeps coughing.
- Non preoccuparti, è solo un po' raffreddato e tossecchia di tanto in tanto.Don't worry, he's just a little cold and coughs from time to time.
- Marco non ha potuto partecipare alla riunione perché era preso dalla tosse.Marco couldn't attend the meeting because he was plagued by coughing.
- Sto tossendo in modo secco da diversi giorni.I've been coughing dryly for several days.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are at home and Francesco feels sick.
- GiuliaFrancesco, perché continui a tossire così tanto?Francesco, why do you keep coughing so much?
- FrancescoNon lo so, ho iniziato a tossire stamattina.I don't know, I started coughing this morning.
- GiuliaForse hai il raffreddore, smetti di tossire!Maybe you have a cold, stop coughing!
- FrancescoNon posso farci nulla, non riesco a non tossire.I can't help it, I can't stop coughing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tossire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
