For aches, Italian says the body part hurts to you: mi fa male + singular part, mi fanno male + plural part. The pronoun (mi, ti, gli, le, ci, vi) shows who feels it, and the verb agrees with the body part, not with the person. The same pattern drives piacere and sentirsi expressions.
Examples
- Mi fa male la testa.
- I have a headache. (lit. the head hurts to me)
- Le fanno male i piedi.
- Her feet hurt.
- Mi sento male, ho la febbre.
- I feel ill, I have a temperature.
The mistake to avoid
Saying "sono male" or "ho male la testa" — it's mi sento male / mi fa male la testa.
Where this fits in
Body, health & feelings, Italian A2: Talk about your body, common illnesses, and how you feel. Visit a doctor or pharmacy and describe symptoms.