malato
The English word sick is translated into Italian as malato.
Malato is used to describe someone who is ill. Beyond being an adjective, it can also function as a substantive to refer to sick people or a patient. While malato is a common way to express sickness, the term ammalato is also used as a general term for being sick. If you want to describe a general feeling of being unwell or simply 'out of sorts' rather than a specific illness, you might use indisposto or indisposta. Additionally, to say that you 'feel sick' or 'feel unwell' in a general sense, Italians often use the verb phrase stare male instead of the adjective.
Meaning: ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively (adj)
Which one should you use?
Malato is used to mean 'sick' in a general sense or to refer to a patient as a noun, whereas ammalato serves as a general term for the state of being sick. For a milder feeling of being unwell, indisposto or indisposta is more appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective malato must agree in gender and number with the person being described. Use malata for a female (feminine singular), malati for a group of men or a mixed-gender group (masculine plural) and malate for a group of women (feminine plural).
Did you know?
- To describe a 'sick' or obsessive passion for something, Italians use the term malato di, such as malato di calcio for someone obsessed with football.
- While malato describes an illness, the phrase stare male can also be used to describe intense emotional distress or grief, not just physical sickness.
- In a colloquial context, calling someone malato can be an insult meaning 'sick in the head' or 'perverted' rather than physically ill.
Examples in context
- Lui non è malato.He's not sick.This sentence shows how to use malato in a negative statement about a male subject.Tatoeba #1307473 by Guybrush88, translation #1307446 by CK
- Tom non è malato.Tom isn't sick.Tatoeba #2608250 by Guybrush88, translation #2237015 by CK
- Lei non è malato.You're not sick.This sentence shows how to use malato in a negative statement about a female subject.Tatoeba #2723392 by Guybrush88, translation #1841497 by CK
- Sono ammalatoI am sick
- Mi sento ammalataI feel sick
- Dottore, mi sento ammalato da giorni. Cosa mi consiglia?Doctor, I have been feeling sick for days. What do you suggest?
- Sono malata e non posso venire al lavoro oggi.I am sick and cannot come to work today.
- Mi sento maleI feel unwell
- Oggi sto male. Non ricordo l'ultima volta che mi sono sentito così debole.Today I feel sick. I can't remember the last time I felt this weak.
- Non sto bene oggi, preferisco rimanere a casa e riposare.I'm not feeling well today, I prefer to stay home and rest.
- 422 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are talking about a colleague who is missing from work.
- MatteoDov'è Marco oggi?Where is Marco today?
- GiuliaÈ a casa perché è malato.He is at home because he is sick.
- MatteoMi dispiace, spero che guarisca presto.I'm sorry, I hope he gets well soon.
- GiuliaSì, povero malato!Yes, poor sick man!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
