Visiting a pharmacy in a foreign country can feel intimidating, especially if you’re not confident in the language. Whether you need medicine for a fever, a rash, or just some advice, knowing how to navigate an Italian pharmacy can make all the difference in your next adventure.
In this blog post, we’re going to have a look at seven handy phrases that will help you chat with pharmacists and get the assistance you need. And remember to check out the podcast for tips on how to pronounce those new words! Let’s make your next adventure a little easier together!
1. Dov’è la farmacia?
Before you head out to the pharmacy, you’ll want to find one nearby! A great way to ask for directions in Italian is by using the structure dov’è. To ask where the pharmacy is, you can say Dov’è la farmacia? Where is the pharmacy?.
If you want to be more specific, you can always ask:
- C’è una farmacia qui vicino? Is there a pharmacy nearby?
2. Non mi sento bene.
After you find the Italian pharmacy, the next step is to say that you are not feeling well. You can do that by saying ‘non mi sento bene’. It’s a straightforward way to communicate that something is wrong.
To emphasise your discomfort, you can say:
- Non mi sento molto bene. I don’t feel very well.
- Mi sento male. I feel bad/unwell.
3. Ho…
Following expressing that you are not feeling great, you then have to describe your symptoms using body parts in Italian or other useful words, like:
- febbre fever
- raffreddore cold
- tosse cough
- una vescica a blister
Just as a refresher, here is how you would talk about your aches and pains to a pharmacist using this structure:
- Ho mal di schiena. I have a sore back.
- Ho la febbre. I have a fever.
- Ho una brutta tosse. I have a bad cough.
4. Può consigliarmi qualcosa?
If you’re looking for some friendly advice from the pharmacist at an Italian pharmacy, just ask, ‘Può consigliarmi qualcosa?’. It’s a polite and cheerful way to seek their guidance. For example:
- Può consigliarmi qualcosa per la febbre? Can you recommend something for a fever?
5. Ho bisogno di…
Ok, but what if you know exactly what you need? Well, that makes things easier, and you can use this structure:
- Ho bisogno di un cerotto. I need a plaster/bandage.
- Ho bisogno di una crema per l’irritazione. I need a cream for the rash.
6. Deve prendere…
When you share what you’re feeling or ask about a specific product, the pharmacist will likely provide you with helpful instructions on how to use the medicine. That’s why getting familiar with the phrase ‘deve prendere…‘ can be super handy! Let’s take a closer look :
- Deve prendere queste pastiglie tre volte al giorno. You have to take these pills three times a day.
- Deve mettere questa crema quattro volte al giorno dopo i pasti. You have to apply this cream four times a day after meals.
One key piece of vocabulary to watch out for, in case you’re given pills, is prima dei pasti before meals and dopo i pasti after meals.
7. Non deve…
Well, if there is advice for when you have to take medicine, there is also advice for things that you should avoid. In that case, the pharmacist of an Italian pharmacy will most likely use the structure ‘non deve…‘, adding some advice on what not to do.
Two examples are:
- Non deve bere alcolici. You must not drink alcohol.
- Non deve stare al sole. You must not be in the sun.
Navigating an Italian pharmacy doesn’t have to be stressful. With these seven phrases in your language toolkit, you’ll be able to explain your symptoms, ask for advice, and understand the pharmacist’s recommendations! So next time you’re in Italy and need some over-the-counter help, you’ll feel confident and prepared.
To keep improving your Italian, why not have a closer look at the present tense conjugation in Italian? We prepared a special blog post focusing on that and also reviewing how to pronounce the letters of the alphabet. Have a look now!
