💊 Pharmacies

⏱ 15 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for visiting a pharmacy. You'll learn how to describe common symptoms, ask a pharmacist for help, talk about basic medicines and prescriptions, and understand simple instructions related to medication. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages. This content is for language-learning purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, emergency, or professional advice.

🟢 Basic Pharmacy Vocabulary

💊 Pharmacy
a shop that sells medicine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Farmacia
🇫🇷 French: Pharmacie
🇩🇪 German: Apotheke
🇮🇹 Italian: Farmacia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Farmácia
👩‍⚕️ Pharmacist
a trained person who prepares and sells medicine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Farmacéutico / Farmacéutica
🇫🇷 French: Pharmacien / Pharmacienne
🇩🇪 German: Apotheker / Apothekerin
🇮🇹 Italian: Farmacista
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Farmacêutico / Farmacêutica
💊 Medication / Medicine
a product used to treat an illness
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Medicamento
🇫🇷 French: Médicament
🇩🇪 German: Medikament / Arzneimittel
🇮🇹 Italian: Medicinale / Farmaco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Medicamento
📄 Prescription
a doctor's written order for medicine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Receta médica
🇫🇷 French: Ordonnance
🇩🇪 German: Rezept
🇮🇹 Italian: Ricetta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Receita médica
💊 Pill / Tablet
a small solid piece of medicine you swallow
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pastilla
🇫🇷 French: Comprimé / Pilule
🇩🇪 German: Tablette / Pille
🇮🇹 Italian: Compressa / Pastiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comprimido / Pílula
🩹 Bandage
a strip of cloth used to cover a wound
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Venda
🇫🇷 French: Bandage / Pansement
🇩🇪 German: Verband
🇮🇹 Italian: Benda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ligadura / Atadura

🟡 Symptoms & Medicine Vocabulary

🤕 Pain
an unpleasant feeling in part of the body
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Dolor
🇫🇷 French: Douleur
🇩🇪 German: Schmerz
🇮🇹 Italian: Dolore
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dor
🤒 Headache
pain in the head
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Dolor de cabeza
🇫🇷 French: Mal de tête
🇩🇪 German: Kopfschmerzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Mal di testa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dor de cabeça
🤧 Cold
a common illness with a runny nose and cough
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Resfriado
🇫🇷 French: Rhume
🇩🇪 German: Erkältung
🇮🇹 Italian: Raffreddore
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Constipação / Resfriado
😷 Cough
a sudden push of air from the throat
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tos
🇫🇷 French: Toux
🇩🇪 German: Husten
🇮🇹 Italian: Tosse
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tosse
🌡️ Fever
a body temperature that is higher than normal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Fiebre
🇫🇷 French: Fièvre
🇩🇪 German: Fieber
🇮🇹 Italian: Febbre
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Febre
🤧 Allergy
a reaction to something like pollen or food
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Alergia
🇫🇷 French: Allergie
🇩🇪 German: Allergie
🇮🇹 Italian: Allergia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Alergia

🔵 Medicine & Pharmacy Items

🥄 Syrup
a thick liquid medicine you swallow
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Jarabe
🇫🇷 French: Sirop
🇩🇪 German: Sirup
🇮🇹 Italian: Sciroppo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Xarope
🧴 Cream
a thick medicine you rub on the skin
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Crema
🇫🇷 French: Crème
🇩🇪 German: Creme
🇮🇹 Italian: Crema
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Creme
💧 Drops
liquid medicine used in small amounts
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Gotas
🇫🇷 French: Gouttes
🇩🇪 German: Tropfen
🇮🇹 Italian: Gocce
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gotas
🩹 Adhesive bandage
a small sticky covering for a cut
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Curita / Tirita
🇫🇷 French: Pansement adhésif
🇩🇪 German: Pflaster
🇮🇹 Italian: Cerotto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pensos / Band-aid
💊 Pain reliever
medicine that reduces pain
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Analgésico
🇫🇷 French: Analgésique / Antidouleur
🇩🇪 German: Schmerzmittel
🇮🇹 Italian: Analgesico
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Analgésico
🌡️ Thermometer
a tool used to measure body temperature
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Termómetro
🇫🇷 French: Thermomètre
🇩🇪 German: Thermometer
🇮🇹 Italian: Termometro
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Termómetro

🧠 Talking About Symptoms at the Pharmacy

💡 Use have with many common symptoms and conditions, such as a headache, fever, cough, or a cold.
I have a headache.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo dolor de cabeza.
🇫🇷 J'ai mal à la tête.
🇩🇪 Ich habe Kopfschmerzen.
🇮🇹 Ho mal di testa.
🇵🇹 Tenho dor de cabeça.
I have a fever and a cough.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo fiebre y tos.
🇫🇷 J'ai de la fièvre et de la toux.
🇩🇪 Ich habe Fieber und Husten.
🇮🇹 Ho la febbre e la tosse.
🇵🇹 Tenho febre e tosse.
💡 Use hurt / hurts to talk about pain in a body part.
My throat hurts.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Me duele la garganta.
🇫🇷 J'ai mal à la gorge.
🇩🇪 Mir tut der Hals weh.
🇮🇹 Mi fa male la gola.
🇵🇹 Dói-me a garganta.
My muscles hurt.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Me duelen los músculos.
🇫🇷 J'ai mal aux muscles.
🇩🇪 Mir tun die Muskeln weh.
🇮🇹 Mi fanno male i muscoli.
🇵🇹 Doem-me os músculos.
💡 Use for when asking for something intended to help with a particular symptom.
I need something for a cough.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito algo para la tos.
🇫🇷 J'ai besoin de quelque chose pour la toux.
🇩🇪 Ich brauche etwas gegen den Husten.
🇮🇹 Mi serve qualcosa per la tosse.
🇵🇹 Preciso de algo para a tosse.
Do you have something for a headache?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tiene algo para el dolor de cabeza?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous quelque chose pour le mal de tête ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie etwas gegen Kopfschmerzen?
🇮🇹 Ha qualcosa per il mal di testa?
🇵🇹 Tem algo para a dor de cabeça?

❓ Useful Pharmacy Questions

💊 Do you have something for a headache?
asking for medicine that helps head pain
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tiene algo para el dolor de cabeza?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous quelque chose pour le mal de tête ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie etwas gegen Kopfschmerzen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Ha qualcosa per il mal di testa?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tem algo para a dor de cabeça?
📄 Do I need a prescription for this medication?
asking if a doctor's note is required
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Necesito receta para este medicamento?
🇫🇷 French: Ai-je besoin d'une ordonnance pour ce médicament ?
🇩🇪 German: Brauche ich ein Rezept für dieses Medikament?
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi serve la ricetta per questo medicinale?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso de receita para este medicamento?
🥄 Do you have something for a cough?
asking for medicine that helps a cough
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tienen algo para la tos?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous quelque chose pour la toux ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie etwas gegen Husten?
🇮🇹 Italian: Avete qualcosa per la tosse?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Têm algo para a tosse?
💊 How should I take this medication?
asking how to use the medicine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cómo debo tomar este medicamento?
🇫🇷 French: Comment dois-je prendre ce médicament ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie soll ich dieses Medikament einnehmen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come devo prendere questo medicinale?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como devo tomar este medicamento?
⏰ How often should I take it?
asking how many times a day to take it
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Con qué frecuencia debo tomarlo?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle fréquence dois-je le prendre ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie oft soll ich es einnehmen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Con che frequenza devo prenderlo?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Com que frequência devo tomá-lo?
📍 Where is the nearest pharmacy?
asking the location of the closest pharmacy
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana?
🇫🇷 French: Où se trouve la pharmacie la plus proche ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo ist die nächste Apotheke?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dov'è la farmacia più vicina?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde fica a farmácia mais próxima?

💬 Common Pharmacy Phrases

🤒 I've had a headache since this morning.
the headache started this morning
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tengo dolor de cabeza desde esta mañana.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai mal à la tête depuis ce matin.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe seit heute Morgen Kopfschmerzen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho mal di testa da questa mattina.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tenho dor de cabeça desde esta manhã.
😷 I need something to relieve my cough.
you want medicine that makes the cough better
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesito algo para aliviar la tos.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai besoin de quelque chose pour soulager la toux.
🇩🇪 German: Ich brauche etwas, um den Husten zu lindern.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi serve qualcosa per alleviare la tosse.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso de algo para aliviar a tosse.
📄 The doctor gave me a prescription for this medication.
the doctor wrote an order for this medicine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: El médico me dio una receta para este medicamento.
🇫🇷 French: Le médecin m'a donné une ordonnance pour ce médicament.
🇩🇪 German: Der Arzt hat mir ein Rezept für dieses Medikament gegeben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il medico mi ha dato una ricetta per questo medicinale.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O médico deu-me uma receita para este medicamento.
💊 I'd like to speak with the pharmacist about this medication.
you want advice from the pharmacist
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quisiera hablar con el farmacéutico sobre este medicamento.
🇫🇷 French: Je voudrais parler au pharmacien de ce médicament.
🇩🇪 German: Ich würde gerne mit dem Apotheker über dieses Medikament sprechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Vorrei parlare con il farmacista di questo medicinale.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gostaria de falar com o farmacêutico sobre este medicamento.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Asking for help with a symptom
describing a cough and sore throat
A: Good morning. I have a cough and my throat hurts.
B: I understand. How long have you had these symptoms?
A: Since yesterday afternoon.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Buenos días. Tengo tos y me duele la garganta.
🇪🇸 B: Entiendo. ¿Desde cuándo tiene estos síntomas?
🇪🇸 A: Desde ayer por la tarde.

🇫🇷 A: Bonjour. J'ai de la toux et j'ai mal à la gorge.
🇫🇷 B: Je comprends. Depuis quand avez-vous ces symptômes ?
🇫🇷 A: Depuis hier après-midi.

🇩🇪 A: Guten Morgen. Ich habe Husten und mir tut der Hals weh.
🇩🇪 B: Verstehe. Seit wann haben Sie diese Symptome?
🇩🇪 A: Seit gestern Nachmittag.

🇮🇹 A: Buongiorno. Ho la tosse e mi fa male la gola.
🇮🇹 B: Capisco. Da quanto tempo ha questi sintomi?
🇮🇹 A: Da ieri pomeriggio.

🇵🇹 A: Bom dia. Tenho tosse e dói-me a garganta.
🇵🇹 B: Compreendo. Há quanto tempo tem estes sintomas?
🇵🇹 A: Desde ontem à tarde.
Asking about a prescription
checking if a doctor's note is needed
A: Excuse me, do I need a prescription for this medication?
B: Yes, this medication is only sold with a prescription.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Disculpe, ¿necesito receta para este medicamento?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, este medicamento solo se vende con receta médica.

🇫🇷 A: Excusez-moi, ai-je besoin d'une ordonnance pour ce médicament ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, ce médicament n'est vendu que sur ordonnance.

🇩🇪 A: Entschuldigung, brauche ich ein Rezept für dieses Medikament?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, dieses Medikament wird nur mit Rezept verkauft.

🇮🇹 A: Scusi, mi serve la ricetta per questo medicinale?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, questo medicinale si vende solo con ricetta medica.

🇵🇹 A: Com licença, preciso de receita para este medicamento?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, este medicamento só se vende com receita médica.

📝 Example Sentences

💊 I went to the pharmacy to ask if they had something to relieve my headache.
you asked for medicine for head pain
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Fui a la farmacia para preguntar si tenían algo para aliviar el dolor de cabeza.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis allé à la pharmacie pour demander s'ils avaient quelque chose pour soulager le mal de tête.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin in die Apotheke gegangen, um zu fragen, ob sie etwas gegen meine Kopfschmerzen haben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono andato in farmacia per chiedere se avevano qualcosa per alleviare il mal di testa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fui à farmácia para perguntar se tinham algo para aliviar a dor de cabeça.
🤧 I explained to the pharmacist that I had a cough and cold symptoms.
you described your cough and cold
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Le expliqué al farmacéutico que tenía tos y síntomas de un resfriado.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai expliqué au pharmacien que j'avais de la toux et des symptômes de rhume.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe dem Apotheker erklärt, dass ich Husten und Erkältungssymptome habe.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho spiegato al farmacista che avevo tosse e sintomi di raffreddore.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Expliquei ao farmacêutico que tinha tosse e sintomas de constipação.
📄 I brought the prescription that the doctor had given me during the appointment.
you took the doctor's written order with you
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Llevé la receta médica que me había dado el médico durante la consulta.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai apporté l'ordonnance que le médecin m'avait donnée pendant la consultation.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe das Rezept mitgebracht, das mir der Arzt während des Termins gegeben hatte.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho portato la ricetta che il medico mi aveva dato durante la visita.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Levei a receita médica que o médico me tinha dado durante a consulta.
🥄 I asked how I should use the syrup before leaving the pharmacy.
you checked the instructions for the syrup
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pregunté cómo debía usar el jarabe antes de salir de la farmacia.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai demandé comment je devais utiliser le sirop avant de quitter la pharmacie.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe gefragt, wie ich den Sirup anwenden soll, bevor ich die Apotheke verlassen habe.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho chiesto come dovevo usare lo sciroppo prima di uscire dalla farmacia.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Perguntei como devia usar o xarope antes de sair da farmácia.
🌡️ I bought a thermometer because I wanted to check whether I had a fever.
you bought a tool to measure temperature
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compré un termómetro porque quería comprobar si tenía fiebre.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai acheté un thermomètre parce que je voulais vérifier si j'avais de la fièvre.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe ein Thermometer gekauft, weil ich überprüfen wollte, ob ich Fieber habe.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho comprato un termometro perché volevo controllare se avessi la febbre.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comprei um termómetro porque queria verificar se tinha febre.
👩‍⚕️ Before choosing a product, I asked the pharmacist for help.
you asked for advice first
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Antes de elegir un producto, le pedí ayuda a la farmacéutica.
🇫🇷 French: Avant de choisir un produit, j'ai demandé de l'aide à la pharmacienne.
🇩🇪 German: Bevor ich ein Produkt ausgewählt habe, habe ich die Apothekerin um Hilfe gebeten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Prima di scegliere un prodotto, ho chiesto aiuto alla farmacista.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Antes de escolher um produto, pedi ajuda à farmacêutica.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the best word or phrase from the lesson. This quiz is for language practice only.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%