Italian Phrase
Mi sa che è un infarto.
Meaning
Literally, ‘It seems to me that it is a heart attack.’ The speaker is expressing a suspicion that someone is suffering a heart attack, often in a sudden, urgent situation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you observe alarming symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.) and want to alert others that a heart attack might be occurring. It is informal but common in everyday conversation, especially in emergencies.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Misacheèuninfarto
Mi (indirect object pronoun)
‘Mi’ is the first‑person singular indirect object pronoun, meaning ‘to me’ or ‘for me’.
sa (sapere, 3rd person singular)
‘Sa’ is the present indicative of ‘sapere’ (to know), used here idiomatically to mean ‘I think’ or ‘it seems to me’.
che (conjunction)
‘Che’ introduces a subordinate clause, equivalent to ‘that’ in English.
è (essere, 3rd person singular)
The present indicative of ‘essere’, meaning ‘is’.
un (indefinite article)
The masculine singular indefinite article, ‘a’ or ‘an’.
infarto (noun)
A medical term meaning ‘heart attack’; masculine singular.
🗨In Conversation
Mi sa che è un infarto.
I think it's a heart attack.
Chiama subito un'ambulanza!
Call an ambulance right away!
✕Common Mistakes
Mi sembra che è un infarto.
After ‘sembra che’ the verb must be in the subjunctive: ‘sembra che sia un infarto.’
Mi sa che è un infarto?
The phrase is a statement, not a question. Use a rising intonation only if you truly ask for confirmation.
↔Alternatives
Credo che sia un infarto.
I believe it is a heart attack.
Mi sembra un infarto.
It looks like a heart attack.
Penso che sia un infarto.
I think it is a heart attack.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, the emergency number is 112 (or 118 for medical emergencies). When you suspect a heart attack, it’s customary to act quickly, call for help, and keep the person calm and seated. The phrase ‘Mi sa che…’ is colloquial; with a doctor you might switch to a more formal tone, e.g., ‘Mi sembra che il paziente abbia un infarto.’