B2 · 59 words
Hospital and diagnosis in Italian
What is said in hospital, and what it means.
Practise this list
From these 59 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
The first entry on this list is l’anamnesi, and it is worth opening the word up, because a very familiar English one is hiding inside it. It comes from the Greek anámnēsis, a calling back to mind, built on the root mnē-, memory, with ana- in front of it meaning back or up again. Now set that beside « amnesia », which is the same root carrying a different prefix: the a- of « anonymous » and « atypical », the one that cancels. So l’anamnesi and « amnesia » are near opposites assembled from the same piece, and what separates them is two letters at the start. The same mnē- turns up in « mnemonic », and in « amnesty », which is a forgetting granted by law rather than suffered by a head. None of that makes the Italian word learned or rare, though. L’anamnesi is the plain business of asking a patient what has happened until now, it opens almost every consultation, and the word an English ward uses for the very same thing is simply « the history ».
The words
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Verb (3)
dimettereto dischargeVerbB2
Il reparto la dimette domani mattina.The ward is discharging her tomorrow morning.
monitorareto monitorVerbB2
In reparto monitorano il battito tutta la notte.On the ward they monitor the heartbeat all night.
diffondersito spreadVerbB2
Il virus si diffonde soprattutto al chiuso.The virus spreads mainly indoors.
Adjective (5)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective stands
preesistentepre-existingAdjectiveB2
La polizza non copre le malattie preesistenti.The policy does not cover pre-existing conditions.
malignomalignantAdjectiveB2
Per fortuna non è risultato maligno.Fortunately it turned out not to be malignant.
palliativopalliativeAdjectiveB2
Il trattamento ora è soltanto palliativo.The treatment is now only palliative.
postoperatoriopost-operativeAdjectiveB2
Il dolore postoperatorio dura pochi giorni.Post-operative pain lasts only a few days.
contagiosocontagiousAdjectiveB2
Nei primi giorni è molto contagioso.In the first few days he is very contagious.
Phrase (5)
ricoverare in ospedaleto admit to hospitalPhraseB2
Hanno deciso di ricoverarlo in ospedale la notte stessa.They decided to admit him to hospital that same night.
essere operatoto be operated onPhraseB2
È stato operato al ginocchio la settimana scorsa.He was operated on last week for his knee.
essere sedatoto be sedatedPhraseB2
Per questo esame si viene sedati leggermente.For this test you are lightly sedated.
riprendersi dato recover fromPhraseB2
Si è ripresa dall’intervento in poche settimane.She recovered from the operation in a few weeks.
restare a digiuno prima dito fast beforePhraseB2
Deve restare a digiuno prima del prelievo.She must fast before the blood test.
Noun (f) (15)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
l’anamnesithe medical historyNoun (f)B2
L’anamnesi comincia con le malattie dei genitori.The medical history begins with the parents’ illnesses.
la cartella clinicathe patient fileNoun (f)B2
La cartella clinica resta in reparto.The patient file stays on the ward.
l’impegnativathe referral letterNoun (f)B2
Senza impegnativa non posso prenotare l’esame.Without a referral letter I cannot book the test.
la terapia intensivaintensive careNoun (f)B2
In terapia intensiva le visite sono brevi.Visits are short in intensive care.
la chemioterapiachemotherapyNoun (f)B2
La chemioterapia si fa in day hospital.Chemotherapy is given as a day case.
la remissionethe remissionNoun (f)B2
La malattia è in remissione da un anno.The disease has been in remission for a year.
la ricadutathe relapseNoun (f)B2
Dopo la ricaduta ha cambiato terapia.After the relapse he changed treatment.
la speranza di vitalife expectancyNoun (f)B2
La speranza di vita dipende da molti fattori.Life expectancy depends on many factors.
la chirurgia ambulatorialeday surgeryNoun (f)B2
In chirurgia ambulatoriale si torna a casa la sera.With day surgery you go home in the evening.
l’incisionethe incisionNoun (f)B2
L’incisione è piccola e guarisce presto.The incision is small and heals quickly.
la sala risvegliothe recovery roomNoun (f)B2
In sala risveglio restano finché non sono svegli.In the recovery room they stay until they are awake.
la guarigionethe recoveryNoun (f)B2
La guarigione richiede pazienza.Recovery takes patience.
la fialathe ampouleNoun (f)B2
La fiala va conservata in frigorifero.The ampoule must be kept in the fridge.
la sperimentazione clinicathe clinical trialNoun (f)B2
La sperimentazione clinica cerca ancora partecipanti.The clinical trial is still looking for participants.
l’immunitàimmunityNoun (f)B2
L’immunità cala con il tempo.Immunity falls off over time.
Noun (m) (31)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
il dirigente medicothe consultantNoun (m)B2
Il dirigente medico firma la relazione.The consultant signs the report.
l’ambulatorio specialisticothe specialist outpatient clinicNoun (m)B2
L’ambulatorio specialistico apre solo il mattino.The specialist outpatient clinic only opens in the morning.
il tempo di attesathe waiting timeNoun (m)B2
Il tempo di attesa per questa visita è lungo.The waiting time for this appointment is long.
il secondo parerethe second opinionNoun (m)B2
Prima di decidere chiede un secondo parere.Before deciding she asks for a second opinion.
il paziente ricoveratothe inpatientNoun (m)B2
Ogni paziente ricoverato ha un braccialetto.Every inpatient wears a wristband.
il paziente ambulatorialethe outpatientNoun (m)B2
Il paziente ambulatoriale torna a casa dopo il controllo.The outpatient goes home after the check-up.
il giro di visitethe ward roundNoun (m)B2
Il giro di visite comincia alle sette.The ward round starts at seven.
il peggioramentothe deteriorationNoun (m)B2
Un peggioramento improvviso va segnalato subito.A sudden deterioration must be reported at once.
il decorsothe course of the illnessNoun (m)B2
Il decorso finora è tranquillo.The course of the illness has been quiet so far.
il fattore di rischiothe risk factorNoun (m)B2
Il fumo resta il fattore di rischio principale.Smoking remains the main risk factor.
il programma di screeningthe screening programmeNoun (m)B2
Il programma di screening invita tutti per lettera.The screening programme invites everybody by letter.
il prelievo di tessutothe tissue sampleNoun (m)B2
Il prelievo di tessuto dura pochi minuti.The tissue sample takes only a few minutes.
il nodulothe lumpNoun (m)B2
Il nodulo va controllato tra sei mesi.The lump is to be checked again in six months.
il tumorethe tumourNoun (m)B2
Il tumore è stato individuato presto.The tumour was found early.
l’anestesistathe anaesthetistNoun (m)B2
L’anestesista spiega che cosa succede prima.The anaesthetist explains what happens beforehand.
i punti di suturathe stitchesNoun (m)B2
I punti di sutura si tolgono tra una settimana.The stitches come out in a week.
i parametri vitalithe vital signsNoun (m)B2
L’infermiera annota i parametri vitali.The nurse writes down the vital signs.
il valore della pressionethe blood-pressure readingNoun (m)B2
Il valore della pressione è tornato normale.The blood-pressure reading is back to normal.
l’esito dell’analisi del sanguethe blood test resultNoun (m)B2
L’esito dell’analisi del sangue arriva domani.The blood test result comes tomorrow.
il medicinale con obbligo di ricettathe prescription-only medicineNoun (m)B2
È un medicinale con obbligo di ricetta.It is a prescription-only medicine.
il farmaco equivalentethe generic medicineNoun (m)B2
Il farmaco equivalente costa meno.The generic medicine costs less.
lo studio in doppio ciecothe double-blind studyNoun (m)B2
In uno studio in doppio cieco nessuno sa chi riceve che cosa.In a double-blind study nobody knows who is given what.
il gruppo di controllothe control groupNoun (m)B2
Il gruppo di controllo non riceve la sostanza.The control group is not given the substance.
il modulo di consensothe consent formNoun (m)B2
Il modulo di consenso viene letto insieme al medico.The consent form is read through with the doctor.
il sistema immunitariothe immune systemNoun (m)B2
Il sistema immunitario reagisce dopo qualche ora.The immune system reacts after a few hours.
l’anticorpothe antibodyNoun (m)B2
Gli anticorpi restano nel sangue a lungo.Antibodies stay in the blood for a long time.
il richiamo vaccinalethe booster jabNoun (m)B2
Il richiamo vaccinale si fa dopo alcuni mesi.The booster jab is given after a few months.
il periodo di incubazionethe incubation periodNoun (m)B2
Il periodo di incubazione dura pochi giorni.The incubation period lasts a few days.
l’isolamento domiciliareself-isolation at homeNoun (m)B2
L’isolamento domiciliare finisce con un test negativo.Self-isolation at home ends with a negative test.
il trattamentothe treatmentNoun (m)B2
Il trattamento continua anche a casa.The treatment carries on at home as well.
il vaso sanguignothe blood vesselNoun (m)B2
Il vaso sanguigno si è chiuso da solo.The blood vessel closed by itself.
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This list belongs to Health and medicine — 50 lists and 1 697 words that can also be practised as a whole.