Breakdown of Ho il raffreddore: porto sempre un fazzoletto in tasca.
io
I
avere
to have
in
in
sempre
always
la tasca
the pocket
portare
to carry
il raffreddore
the cold
il fazzoletto
the tissue
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Questions & Answers about Ho il raffreddore: porto sempre un fazzoletto in tasca.
Why is it Ho il raffreddore and not Sono raffreddore?
Italian typically uses the verb avere (to have) for physical states and illnesses: ho fame, ho freddo, ho mal di testa, and ho il raffreddore. Saying sono raffreddore is ungrammatical. If you want to use essere, you switch to the adjective: sono raffreddato (male) / sono raffreddata (female) = “I have a cold/I’m stuffed up.”
Why the definite article il in il raffreddore? We say “a cold” in English.
With common illnesses, Italian often uses the definite article to refer to the condition generically: ho l’influenza, ho il raffreddore. You use the indefinite when you treat it as one episode or a type: ho preso un (brutto) raffreddore, mi è venuto un raffreddore tremendo. Both patterns are natural, but the bare statement of having the condition prefers the definite.
What’s the difference between Ho il raffreddore and Sono raffreddato/raffreddata?
- Ho il raffreddore states the illness in a neutral, matter‑of‑fact way.
- Sono raffreddato/raffreddata focuses on your current symptomatic state (stuffy, runny nose, etc.), slightly more colloquial. Related:
- Mi sono raffreddato/raffreddata = “I caught a cold” (the moment you became ill).
- Ho preso (un) raffreddore and mi è venuto il raffreddore say the same thing in other ways.
Does portare here mean “to wear” or “to carry”? Could I use indossare or tenere?
In this sentence porto means “I carry/bring (with me).”
- Portare = to carry/bring; also “to wear” for accessories and some items: porto gli occhiali, porto la barba, porto un cappello.
- Indossare = specifically “to put on/wear” clothing; less used for small items you carry. You wouldn’t normally say indosso un fazzoletto.
- Tenere = “to keep/hold”: tengo sempre un fazzoletto in tasca is very natural and close in meaning to “I keep a handkerchief in my pocket.”
Do I need to say con me (with me): Porto sempre con me un fazzoletto?
Optional. Porto sempre un fazzoletto already implies “with me.” Adding con me or colloquial dietro just emphasizes it: porto sempre con me/dietro un fazzoletto.
Why is it in tasca and not nella tasca? What’s the difference?
- In tasca is an idiomatic, generic way to say “in (my) pocket,” with the possessor understood from context. It doesn’t point to a specific pocket.
- Nella tasca (= in + la) specifies a particular pocket: nella tasca destra, nella tasca del cappotto. Note: tasca is feminine, so if you use the article it must be nella, not “nel.”
Where should sempre go? Is Sempre porto un fazzoletto okay?
The neutral spot is after the conjugated verb: porto sempre. Sempre porto is possible only for special emphasis or poetic/rhetorical effect. You can also put it between auxiliary and participle: ho sempre portato.
Why don’t we say io ho or io porto? Is dropping the subject normal?
Yes. Italian is a “null-subject” language: the verb ending shows the subject, so pronouns are omitted unless you need emphasis or contrast: io porto sempre… (I, as opposed to others).
If I mean a disposable tissue, should I say fazzoletto, fazzolettino, or Kleenex?
All are used:
- Fazzolettino (di carta) = small paper tissue (very common).
- Fazzoletto di carta = paper tissue (neutral).
- Fazzoletto alone can mean a cloth handkerchief; context decides.
- Many Italians also say un Kleenex in informal speech (brand used generically).
Is tovagliolo a synonym of fazzoletto?
No. Tovagliolo is a table napkin. For blowing your nose use fazzolettino/fazzoletto (di carta). Paper towel is scottex or carta assorbente.
What are the genders and plurals of the key nouns?
- il raffreddore (masc. sing.) → plural rarely used because it’s a mass/condition, but grammatically i raffreddori.
- il fazzoletto (masc. sing.) → i fazzoletti.
- la tasca (fem. sing.) → le tasche. The jacket breast pocket is il taschino.
Is the colon here standard? Could I use a comma or a connector instead?
Yes, the colon is standard to introduce an explanation/result: Ho il raffreddore: porto sempre… Alternatives:
- Comma + connector: Ho il raffreddore, quindi/perciò porto sempre…
- Two sentences: Ho il raffreddore. Porto sempre… In Italian, no space before the colon, one space after.
Are there other natural ways to express having a cold?
Common options:
- Sono (un po’) raffreddato/raffreddata.
- Ho il naso chiuso / mi cola il naso / sto starnutendo.
- To say you’re recovering: sto guarendo dal raffreddore or mi sta passando il raffreddore.
How do I pronounce raffreddore and fazzoletto?
- raffredDÓre: stress on the second-to-last syllable (‑dó‑); double consonants ff and dd are held slightly longer.
- fazzolÉtto: stress on ‑lét‑; double zz and tt are lengthened. In Italian, doubling changes rhythm and can affect meaning, so try to make the consonants clearly long.