Complete Italian Course · A2
Lesson 14: Expanded Vocabulary — Work, Travel, Health & Opinions
Talking about your job and workplace · Airport and travel vocabulary · At the doctor's and the pharmacy · Giving and asking for opinions
CEFR Level A2A2 · Lesson 6 of 8Table of Contents
01🎯
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
✔Talk about your job, workplace, and colleagues
✔Handle essential airport and travel vocabulary
✔Describe symptoms and visit the doctor or pharmacy
✔Give and ask for opinions naturally
✔Agree and disagree politely in conversation
⏱️ Study time: ~2.5 hours. This lesson is vocabulary-heavy rather than grammar-heavy — a good chance to consolidate everything you've learned in Lessons 9–13 while expanding what you can actually talk about.
02💼
Work Vocabulary
Whether you're job hunting, chatting about your career, or navigating an Italian office, this vocabulary covers the essentials.
The Workplace
| Italian👇 Click below 🔊 | Phonetic | English |
|---|---|---|
| il lavoro | eel lah-VOH-roh | job / work |
| l'ufficio | loof-FEE-choh | the office |
| il capo / la capa | eel KAH-poh / lah KAH-pah | the boss |
| il/la collega | eel/lah koh-LEH-gah | colleague |
| lo stipendio | loh stee-PEHN-dyoh | salary |
| l'orario di lavoro | loh-RAH-ryoh dee lah-VOH-roh | working hours |
| il colloquio | eel kohl-LOH-kwyoh | job interview |
| il curriculum | eel koo-REE-koo-loom | résumé / CV |
| assumere | ahs-SOO-meh-reh | to hire |
| licenziare | lee-chehn-TSYAH-reh | to fire |
| le ferie | leh FEH-ryeh | vacation / paid leave |
💡 Che lavoro fai? (What's your job?) is the standard question. Common answers: Faccio l'insegnante / Sono avvocato / Lavoro in un ufficio.
03✈️
Travel Vocabulary
Essential words for airports, hotels, and getting around — the practical vocabulary that gets real use while traveling in Italy.
Airports & Travel
| Italian👇 Click below 🔊 | Phonetic | English |
|---|---|---|
| l'aeroporto | lah-eh-roh-POHR-toh | the airport |
| il volo | eel VOH-loh | the flight |
| il ritardo | eel ree-TAHR-doh | delay |
| la valigia | lah vah-LEE-jah | the suitcase |
| il passaporto | eel pahs-sah-POHR-toh | passport |
| la dogana | lah doh-GAH-nah | customs |
| prenotare | preh-noh-TAH-reh | to book/reserve |
| la coincidenza | lah koh-een-chee-DEHN-tsah | connecting flight |
| l'ostello | loh-STEHL-loh | the hostel |
| il check-in | eel chehk-EEN | check-in |
| perdere il volo | PEHR-deh-reh eel VOH-loh | to miss the flight |
💡 Ho prenotato un volo per Roma (I booked a flight to Rome) uses the passato prossimo you already know — new vocabulary slots straight into grammar you've mastered.
04🏥
Health Vocabulary
Vocabulary for describing how you feel and navigating a visit to the doctor or pharmacy — genuinely useful in an emergency, not just for exams.
Symptoms & the Doctor
| Italian👇 Click below 🔊 | Phonetic | English |
|---|---|---|
| il medico / il dottore | eel MEH-dee-koh / eel doht-TOH-reh | the doctor |
| la farmacia | lah fahr-mah-CHEE-ah | the pharmacy |
| il mal di testa | eel mahl dee TEH-stah | headache |
| il mal di pancia | eel mahl dee PAHN-chah | stomach ache |
| il mal di gola | eel mahl dee GOH-lah | sore throat |
| la febbre | lah FEHB-breh | fever |
| il raffreddore | eel rahf-frehd-DOH-reh | a cold |
| la ricetta | lah ree-CHEHT-tah | prescription |
| l'appuntamento | lahp-poon-tah-MEHN-toh | appointment |
| sentirsi male | sehn-TEER-see MAH-leh | to feel unwell |
🔑 Talking About Symptoms
avere + mal di + [body part] is the standard structure: Ho mal di testa. — I have a headache.
mi fa male + [body part] also works: Mi fa male la gola. — My throat hurts.
05💭
Giving Opinions
Expressing what you think, agreeing, and disagreeing are core conversation skills — here are the phrases that carry the most conversational weight.
Opinion Phrases
| Italian👇 Click below 🔊 | Phonetic | English |
|---|---|---|
| Secondo me… | seh-KOHN-doh meh | In my opinion… |
| A mio parere… | ah MEE-oh pah-REH-reh | In my view… |
| Credo di avere ragione. | KREH-doh dee ah-VEH-reh rah-JOH-neh | I believe I'm right. |
| Sono d'accordo. | SOH-noh dahk-KOHR-doh | I agree. |
| Non sono d'accordo. | nohn SOH-noh dahk-KOHR-doh | I don't agree. |
| Hai ragione. | ah-EE rah-JOH-neh | You're right. |
| Mi sembra che… | mee SEHM-brah keh | It seems to me that… |
| Dipende. | dee-PEHN-deh | It depends. |
💡 Secondo me and a mio parere are the safest, most common ways to give an opinion — they take the plain indicative, no special verb form needed. Penso che… and Credo che… technically call for the congiuntivo (subjunctive), a B1 topic — for now, use credo di + infinitive when the subject is the same (Credo di avere ragione) and lean on secondo me for everything else.
06🗣️
Dialogues
Scene 1 — Talking About Work
SOFIA
Che lavoro fai adesso?
What's your job now?
MARCO
Lavoro in un ufficio come grafico. Ho un buon capo e ottimi colleghi, ma lo stipendio potrebbe essere migliore.
I work in an office as a graphic designer. I have a good boss and great colleagues, but the salary could be better.
SOFIA
Hai avuto un colloquio difficile?
Did you have a difficult interview?
MARCO
Abbastanza, ma alla fine mi hanno assunto subito. Sono contento della scelta.
Fairly, but in the end they hired me right away. I'm happy with the choice.
Scene 2 — At the Pharmacy
FARMACISTA
Buongiorno, come posso aiutarla?
Good morning, how can I help you?
CLIENTE
Ho mal di gola e un po' di febbre da due giorni. Mi fa male anche la testa.
I've had a sore throat and a bit of a fever for two days. My head hurts too.
FARMACISTA
Sembra un semplice raffreddore. Le consiglio questo sciroppo e di riposare. Se la febbre continua, vada dal medico.
It sounds like a simple cold. I recommend this syrup and resting. If the fever continues, go to the doctor.
CLIENTE
Grazie mille, molto gentile.
Thank you very much, very kind.
Scene 3 — Discussing an Opinion
ANNA
Secondo me, viaggiare da soli è la migliore esperienza.
In my opinion, traveling alone is the best experience.
LUCA
Non sono del tutto d'accordo. Dipende dalla persona — io preferisco viaggiare con amici.
I don't fully agree. It depends on the person — I prefer traveling with friends.
ANNA
Capisco il tuo punto di vista, ma a mio parere l'indipendenza vale la pena.
I understand your point of view, but in my view the independence is worth it.
LUCA
Forse hai ragione tu. Proverò un viaggio da solo prima o poi.
Maybe you're right. I'll try a solo trip sooner or later.
07🇮🇹
Cultural Notes: Ferie, Sanità & Work-Life Balance
August Is Sacred
Many Italian businesses close entirely for part of August, especially around Ferragosto (August 15th) — a national holiday and the peak of the summer break. It's common to see "Chiuso per ferie" (closed for vacation) signs on shop doors for one to four weeks. Work-life balance, at least around summer holidays, is taken seriously.
On healthcare: Italy has a national public health system (il Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN) that provides free or low-cost care to residents. For minor issues, Italians very commonly go straight to the farmacia first — pharmacists there can give real medical advice for everyday symptoms, which is why the pharmacy dialogue above is such a realistic everyday scene, not just a textbook setup.
08✏️
Exercises & Practice
Exercise 1 — Match the Domain 💼✈️🏥
Write W (work), T (travel), or H (health) for each word:
1. il colloquio →
2. la febbre →
3. la valigia →
4. lo stipendio →
5. la ricetta →
6. la dogana →
Show Answers
1. W 2. H 3. T 4. W 5. H 6. T
Exercise 2 — Describe the Symptom 🏥
Write the Italian for each symptom:
1. headache →
2. sore throat →
3. a cold →
4. I feel unwell →
Show Answers
1. mal di testa 2. mal di gola
3. raffreddore 4. Mi sento male.
Exercise 3 — Agree or Disagree 💭
Complete each opinion phrase:
1. me, questo film è fantastico. (in my opinion)
2. Sono con te. (I agree)
3. . Dipende dalla situazione. (it depends)
Show Answers
1. Secondo 2. d'accordo 3. Dipende
Exercise 4 — Translate to Italian 🌍
1. I have a headache and a fever.
2. I booked a flight to Milan.
3. In my opinion, this job is interesting.
Show Answers
1. Ho mal di testa e febbre.
2. Ho prenotato un volo per Milano.
3. Secondo me, questo lavoro è interessante.
09🗺️
Lesson Mind Map — Recap
Work
capo, collega, stipendio
colloquio, assumere
Che lavoro fai?
Travel
volo, ritardo, valigia
dogana, prenotare
Ho prenotato un volo.
Health
mal di testa/gola
febbre, farmacia
Ho mal di + [part]
Opinions
secondo me, a mio parere
sono/non sono d'accordo
penso che → B1 (subjunctive)
Symptom Structure
avere + mal di + parte
mi fa male + parte
Mi fa male la gola.
Dialogues
Talking about work
At the pharmacy
Debating an opinion
Culture: Ferie & SSN
August closures
pharmacist as first stop
public healthcare (SSN)
Grammar Reuse
new words, known grammar
passato prossimo, avere
consolidates Lessons 9–13
10🃏
Quick-Review Flashcards
Tap to reveal:
il colloquio
job interview
perdere il volo
to miss the flight
mal di testa
headache — avere + mal di + body part
la farmacia
the pharmacy — first stop for minor ailments in Italy
secondo me
in my opinion — safest, most common opinion opener
sono d'accordo
I agree
11📚
Resources & Homework
Anki — Four Domains
Build separate decks for work, travel, health, and opinion vocabulary — 10+ words each.
Describe Your Job
Write 6+ sentences about your actual job or studies, using at least 5 new work vocabulary words.
Practice Symptoms
Practice describing 5 different symptoms aloud using both avere mal di and mi fa male structures.
Debate an Opinion
Pick a topic and write a short exchange where you and a friend disagree politely, using secondo me / non sono d'accordo.
Tonight's Homework
- Memorise 10 words from each of the four vocabulary domains
- Write a short paragraph combining work and opinion vocabulary (e.g., what you think of your job)
- Practice both symptom structures until they feel automatic
- Role-play all three dialogues aloud, swapping roles between scenes
Key Takeaways — What You Learned Today
- Core work vocabulary: capo, collega, stipendio, colloquio, assumere, licenziare, ferie
- Core travel vocabulary: volo, ritardo, valigia, dogana, prenotare, coincidenza
- Symptoms use avere + mal di + body part or mi fa male + body part
- Secondo me and a mio parere are the safest opinion openers; penso che/credo che technically need the subjunctive, a B1 topic
- Sono/non sono d'accordo and dipende handle agreement and disagreement smoothly
- New vocabulary slots directly into grammar you already know — passato prossimo, avere, dovere/potere/volere
- Italy's public healthcare system (SSN) and the everyday role of the pharmacist reflect real cultural patterns, not just phrasebook scenarios