Italian All-in-One For Dummies (91 page)

Here's a question that you may need to ask in a doctor's office, with typical replies:

Devo prendere qualcosa?
(
deh
-voh
prehn
-deh-reh kwahl-
koh
-zah?) (
Do I have to take anything?
)

No, si riposi e beva molta acqua.
(noh, see ree-
poh
-zee eh
beh
-vah
mohl
-tah
ah
-kwah.) (
No, rest and drink a lot of water.
)

Ecco la ricetta.
(
ehk
-koh lah ree-
cheht
-tah.) (
Here is your prescription
.)

Getting what you need at the pharmacy

If you need
una medicina
(
ooh
-nah meh-dee-
chee
-nah) (
a medicine
), you'll probably look for the closest
farmacia
(fahr-mah-
chee
-ah) (
pharmacy
). Usual pharmacy hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., generally with a lunch break from 1 to 4 p.m. But a pharmacy is always open in case of an emergency! You can find the address and phone number of the
farmacia di turno
(fahr-mah-
chee-
ah dee
toohr
-noh) (
open pharmacy
) written on all pharmacy doors.

Italy is one of those places where pharmacists still give medical advice. These places are true pharmacies without all the non-drug items for sale like you find in your typical big drug store in the United States, where you can get everything from canned food to beach chairs. Furthermore, you generally don't walk in, browse, and help yourself to even simple things like aspirin. This is the same for many other types of stores in Italy, the
profumeria
(proh-fooh-meh-
ryah
) (
toiletries shop
), shoe stores, and small clothing shops in particular. Many items are kept behind the counter. So if you or a loved one has a slight ailment and it's not an emergency, you can go into the pharmacy for help.

Here are some items you may go to a pharmacy for:

le lenti a contatto
[f, pl] (leh
lenhn
-tee ah kohn-
taht
-toh) (
contact lenses
)

soluzione
(soh-looh-
tsyoh
-neh) (
solution
)

pomata
(poh-
mah
-tah) (
cream; lotion
)

ricetta
(ree-
cheht
-tah) (
prescription
)

Braving the dentist

You may need some emergency dental work while you're in Italy. The first thing to ask the concierge at your hotel, the pharmacist, or the friendly
barista
where you've been having breakfast every morning is
Scusi, mi può consigliare un dentista di fiducia?
(
skooh
-zee, mee pwoh
kohn-
see-
lyah
-reh oohn dehn-
tees
-tah dee fee-
dooh
-chah?) (
Excuse me, would you please recommend a good dentist?
)

Handling Legal Matters

When traveling in Italy, you may find yourself in a bind, requiring help from the police or a lawyer. This section guides you through vocabulary that you hope you never have to use, but it's best to be prepared in case the need arises.

Reporting an accident

In addition to medical emergencies, other types of emergencies may require you to call the police to report something you've witnessed.

Talkin' the Talk

Elena has just seen an elderly woman on her bicycle hit by a scooter. She calls the police. (Track 29)

Officer:
Polizia.

poh-lee-
tsee
-ah.

Police.

Elena:
C'è stato un incidente!

cheh
stah
-toh oohn een-chee-
dehn
-teh!

There's been an accident!

Officer:
Dove?

doh
-veh?

Where?

Elena:
In Piazza Mattei.

een
pyaht
-tsah maht-
tehy.

In
Piazza Mattei.

Officer:
Ci sono feriti?

chee
soh
-noh feh-
ree
-tee?

Is anyone injured?

Elena:
C'è una persona ferita e incosciente.

cheh
ooh
-na pehr-
soh
-nah feh-
ree
-tah eh in-ko-
shehn
-teh.

Someone is injured and unconscious.

Officer:
Mandiamo subito un'ambulanza.

mahn-
dyah
-moh
sooh
-bee-toh ooh-nahm-booh-
lahn
-tsah.

We'll send an ambulance right away.

 

Reporting a robbery

No one ever wants to be the target of a robbery, but if you are, you should be prepared with these important phrases when the police arrive.

Sono stata/o derubata/o.
(
soh
-noh
stah
-tah/toh deh-rooh-
bah
-tah/toh.) (
I've been robbed.
)

C'è stato un furto nel mio appartamento.
(
cheh
stah
-toh oohn
foohr
-toh nehl
mee
-oh ahp-pahr-tah-
mehn
-toh.) (
There was a burglary in my apartment.
)

Sono entrati dei ladri in casa nostra.
(
soh
-noh ehn-
trah
-tee dey
lah
-dree een
kah
-sah
nohs
-trah.) (
Thieves broke into our house.
)

Mi hanno rubato la macchina.
(mee
ahn
-noh rooh-
bah
-toh lah
mahk
-kee-nah.) (
My car has been stolen.
)

Mi hanno scippata.
(mee
ahn
-noh sheep-
pah
-tah.) (
My handbag was snatched.
)

Talkin' the Talk

A moped driver just stole Anna's
borsa
(
bohr
-sah) (
handbag
). Distraught, she calls 113 for the police to
denunciare
(deh-noohn-
chah
-reh) (
report
)
il furto
(eel
foohr
-toh) (
the theft
).

Officer:
Polizia.

poh-lee-
tsee
-ah.

Police.

Anna:
Mi hanno appena scippata!

mee
ahn
-noh ahp-
peh
-nah sheep-
pah
-tah!

They just snatched my handbag!

Officer:
Si calmi e venga in questura.