At the Pharmacy

At the Pharmacy in Italy

When you travel in Italy, visiting a farmacia (pharmacy, marked by a green cross) is straightforward if you know a few key phrases. Pharmacists in Italy are very helpful and often give basic medical advice!

Asking for Medicine

To ask for a product, you can use the polite phrase Vorrei... (I would like...) followed by the item you need.

  • Vorrei un'aspirina, per favore. (I would like an aspirin, please.)
  • Avete qualcosa per il mal di testa? (Do you have something for a headache?)

Describing Symptoms

Use Ho... (I have...) to describe what hurts or what symptoms you are experiencing.

  • Ho la tosse. (I have a cough.)
  • Ho mal di gola. (I have a sore throat.)

Common Mistakes

Don't confuse farmacia (pharmacy) with drogheria (which sells household goods). Also, remember that aches use the masculine noun mal (e.g., mal di testa, mal di schiena).

Words

la farmacia
pharmacy
Dov'è la farmacia più vicina?Where is the nearest pharmacy?
il mal di testa
headache
Ho un forte mal di testa.I have a bad headache.
la febbre
fever
Penso di avere la febbre.I think I have a fever.
la tosse
cough
Prendo questo sciroppo per la tosse.I am taking this cough syrup.
il mal di gola
sore throat
Ho il mal di gola e la tosse.I have a sore throat and a cough.
l'aspirina
aspirin
Vorrei una scatola di aspirina.I would like a box of aspirin.
la compressa
tablet
Prendi una compressa ogni otto ore.Take one tablet every eight hours.
lo sciroppo
syrup
Questo sciroppo è dolce.This syrup is sweet.
la ricetta
prescription
Serve la ricetta per questo farmaco?Do you need a prescription for this medicine?
il dolore
pain
Il dolore passa dopo dieci minuti.The pain goes away after ten minutes.

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Patterns

Vorrei ___ , per favore.

Politely ask for an item at the pharmacy.

Vorrei un'aspirina, per favore.I would like an aspirin, please.

Ho ___ .

Describe a symptom or ache you are experiencing.

Ho la tosse e la febbre.I have a cough and a fever.

Avete qualcosa per ___ ?

Ask the pharmacist for a remedy for a specific issue.

Avete qualcosa per il mal di testa?Do you have something for a headache?