La dottoressa dice che devo riposare.

The doctor says that I have to rest.

Breakdown of La dottoressa dice che devo riposare.

• io: I
• riposare: to rest
• che: that
• dovere: to have to

Questions & Answers about La dottoressa dice che devo riposare.

Why is it la dottoressa and not just dottoressa?

In Italian, it is very common to use the definite article before a professional title or role when talking about a specific person:

• la dottoressa = the doctor
• il professore = the professor
• l’avvocato = the lawyer

So La dottoressa dice... sounds natural in Italian.

In some situations, especially when directly addressing someone, you would drop the article:

• Buongiorno, dottoressa.

But in a normal statement like this one, la dottoressa is standard.

Why is it dottoressa instead of dottore?

Because dottoressa is the feminine form of dottore.

• il dottore = male doctor
• la dottoressa = female doctor

Italian usually marks gender more clearly than English does. Since the doctor here is female, dottoressa is used.

What tense is dice?