indisposto
/in.disˈpos.to/
The English word "unwell" is translated into Italian as indisposto.
Indisposto is used to describe someone who feels slightly unwell, nauseated or physically uncomfortable, rather than someone suffering from a serious or chronic illness.
Meaning: not well (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the prefix in- (not) and disposto (disposed/ready), literally meaning not disposed or not feeling right.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Indisposto is a relatively polite and formal way to describe feeling unwell compared to more colloquial terms for being sick.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use indisposta for a single female, indisposti for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and indisposte for a group of only women.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables and the stress is on the third syllable: /in.disˈpos.to/.
Did you know?
- In some social contexts, saying a woman is indisposta can be a discreet euphemism for menstruation. This usage allows a speaker to explain an absence or discomfort without being explicit.
- The root disposto comes from the Latin 'disponere', which means 'to arrange'. Therefore, feeling indisposto literally suggests that one's internal physical arrangement is out of order.
- While indisposto refers to health, the same word can also mean 'unwilling' or 'disinclined' to do something. In this context, it describes a person's mood or attitude rather than their physical state.
Examples in context
- È indisposto.He's unwell.This sentence is useful for showing how to say indisposto when describing a male.Tatoeba #8482547 by Guybrush88, translation #8476481 by CH
- Ho mangiato qualcosa che mi ha fatto male allo stomaco. Mi sento male.I ate something that upset my stomach. I feel unwell.
- Ho preso freddo ieri sera. Non mi sento bene.I caught a cold last night. I don't feel well.
- Ho mal di testa e sto male.I have a headache and I'm not well.
- Mi sento un po' indisposto oggi.I feel a bit unwell today.
- Perché sembra così indisposto?Why does he seem so unwell?
Example conversation
Chiara asks Francesco why he is not eating.
- ChiaraPerché non mangi, Francesco?Why aren't you eating, Francesco?
- FrancescoSono un po' indisposto, non ho fame.I'm a bit unwell, I'm not hungry.
- ChiaraVuoi che ti porti una medicina?Do you want me to bring you some medicine?
- FrancescoNo grazie, Chiara, ho solo bisogno di riposare.No thanks, Chiara, I just need to rest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unwell” translations and entries indisposto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
