Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| testa | /ˈtɛs.ta/ | feminine |
| capo | /ˈka.po/ | masculine |
testa is used when referring to the anatomical part of the body or a sensation like a headache. capo is used in figurative or functional contexts, such as referring to a leader, a boss or the top or end of an object.
Which one should you use?
Use testa for the biological part of the body. Use capo to mean a leader, a boss or the top/end of something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
testa is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles and adjectives. capo is a masculine noun and requires masculine articles and adjectives. If you wish to express the verb form "to head" (to move in a specified direction), use andare.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɛs.ta/. The word has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
When do people say it?
The idiomatic expression for "headache" is mal di testa, which literally translates to "bad of head".
Did you know?
- The word testa originally meant a 'pot' or 'earthenware shell' in Latin, which is how it evolved to describe the human skull.
- The phrase a testa bassa literally means 'with head low' and describes someone working diligently or submitting to authority without complaining.
- Calling someone a testa di legno literally means they have a 'head of wood' and implies they are stubborn or thick-headed.
Examples in context
- Ho mal di testa.My head aches.This sentence shows how to express having a headache using testa.Tatoeba #380234 by Pharamp, translation #280125 by CK
- Dove ha la testa?Where's your head at?This sentence uses testa to ask about the location of someone's head.Tatoeba #1883230 by Guybrush88, translation #24643 by CK
- Lei usò la testa.She used her head.This sentence uses testa to describe using one's intellect or sense.Tatoeba #3379452 by Guybrush88, translation #1894375 by Spamster
- Il capo della famigliaThe head of the family
- Il capo dell'aziendaThe head of the company
- Il capo di statoThe head of state
- Il dolore alla testaThe pain in the head
- La testa pensanteThe thinking head
- Usa il tuo cervello!Use your head!
- Hai una testa dura come un ceppo!You have a stubborn head!
- Quando mi fa male la testa, bevo tè caldo.When I have a headache, I drink hot tea.
- Il capo della mia squadra è molto competente.The head of my team is very competent.
- Maria ha una mente brillante. Ha molte idee in testa.Maria has a brilliant mind. She has a lot of ideas in her head.
- 398 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are talking about a small injury.
- GiuliaTi sei fatto male alla testa?Did you hurt your head?
- FrancescoSì, ho sbattuto la testa contro lo scaffale.Yes, I hit my head against the shelf.
- GiuliaFammi vedere la testa, Francesco.Let me see your head, Francesco.
- FrancescoTutto a posto, non fa più male.Everything is fine, it doesn't hurt anymore.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “head” translations and entries testa, capo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries capo, testa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
