Ferita vs. infortunio

The Italian words 'ferita' and 'infortunio' both relate to injuries, but they have distinct uses and connotations in the Italian language.

Ferita

'Ferita' refers to a physical wound or cut, typically visible on the body's surface.
Ha una ferita sul ginocchio dopo essere caduto dalla bicicletta.
(He has a wound on his knee after falling off his bicycle.)
Il chirurgo ha suturato la ferita con cura.
(The surgeon carefully stitched the wound.)
La ferita sul braccio si sta rimarginando bene.
(The wound on the arm is healing well.)

Infortunio

'Infortunio' refers to an injury in a broader sense, often associated with accidents or sports-related incidents.
Il calciatore ha subito un infortunio durante la partita.
(The soccer player suffered an injury during the match.)
L'azienda offre un'assicurazione contro gli infortuni sul lavoro.
(The company offers insurance against workplace injuries.)
A causa dell'infortunio, dovrà rimanere a riposo per due settimane.
(Due to the injury, he will need to rest for two weeks.)

Summary

While 'ferita' specifically describes a physical wound or cut, 'infortunio' is a more general term for injuries, including those that may not be visibly apparent. 'Ferita' is commonly used in medical contexts for describing wounds, while 'infortunio' is often used in sports, workplace, or insurance contexts to describe various types of injuries or accidents.