A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "My back hurts" in Italian
Express that your back is hurting in Italian with this common phrase. Perfect for when you need to explain discomfort.
Mi fa male la schiena.
mee fah MAH-leh lah skyeh-nahneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you're feeling physical pain in your back. It's useful if you need to explain why you can't lift something, sit for too long, or participate in an activity.
Alternatives
- Ho mal di schiena.Slightly more common in some regions, also perfectly fine.
- La mia schiena mi duole.More literary or formal, less common in everyday chat.
Ways to get it wrong
Don't say 'La mia schiena fa male'.
The structure 'Mi fa male X' is the standard way to say 'X hurts me'.
Pronounce 'schiena' correctly.
The 'sch' is like 'sk' in 'skate', not 'sh' in 'shoe'.
Frequently asked
how to say my back hurts in italian
The most common way is 'Mi fa male la schiena.' You can also say 'Ho mal di schiena.' which means the same thing.
italian for back pain
For general back pain, you'd say 'Mi fa male la schiena.' If you want to be more specific about the pain, you might add details.
Is 'Mi fa male la schiena' formal or informal?
This phrase is neutral and works in most situations. You don't need to change it based on who you're talking to.
