Pharmacy & Health

1. Haben Sie ein Mittel gegen Kopfschmerzen?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a German pharmacy (Apotheke)

   Grammar Note

   "Gegen + symptom" = "for/against (symptom)". German Apotheken have licensed pharmacists (Apotheker) for professional advice

2. Ich brauche ein Magenmittel

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   German compound word: "Magen" (stomach) + "Mittel" (remedy) = stomach medicine. Typical German word formation

3. Ich brauche ein Mittel gegen Durchfall

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Durchfall" = "durch" (through) + "fall" (fall). Also used as the medical term for diarrhea

4. Ich habe Fieber

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Fieber haben" is idiomatic for having a fever. "Temperatur messen" = take temperature

5. Ich habe eine Allergie

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Allergy" comes from German "Allergie". "Ich bin allergisch gegen..." = "I am allergic to..."

6. Ich brauche Pflaster

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Pflaster" is the German generic term for plasters. Brand names "Hansaplast" and "Elastoplast" are also widely recognized

7. Ich brauche ein Insektenschutzmittel

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Classic German compound: "Insekten" (insects) + "Schutz" (protection) + "Mittel" (agent) = insect protection agent

8. Ich brauche Sonnenschutzcreme

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Compound of "Sonne" (sun) + "Schutz" (protection) + "Creme". "Lichtschutzfaktor" (LSF) is the German equivalent of SPF

9. Wie nehme ich dieses Medikament ein?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Einnehmen" (take/ingest medicine) is a separable verb (ein + nehmen). "Nehmen" alone is also acceptable

10. Brauche ich ein Rezept?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Rezept" means both prescription and recipe. "Verschreibungspflichtig" = prescription required, important pharmacy vocabulary

11. das Rezept

    Prescription

    Usage

    Point to this to ask whether a prescription is needed, or to show one

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun; the same word also means a cooking recipe, but in a pharmacy it reads only as a prescription

12. die Apotheke

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for a pharmacy; look for the green "A" sign

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; a "Drogerie" sells toiletries but no prescription medicine

13. das Fieberthermometer

    Thermometer (clinical)

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a clinical thermometer; "Fieber-" distinguishes it from a weather thermometer

14. der Verband

    Bandage

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for a bandage; an adhesive plaster is "das Pflaster"

15. das Desinfektionsmittel

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for a wound disinfectant

16. der Mundschutz

    Face mask

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for a hygienic face mask

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; plain "die Maske" can mean a costume mask, so this compound is the safer card

17. die Damenbinde

    Sanitary pad

    Usage

    Point to this at a pharmacy or drugstore for sanitary pads; a tampon is "der Tampon"

18. das Kondom

    Condom

    Usage

    Point to this to buy condoms at a pharmacy or drugstore

19. die Augentropfen

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for eye drops

    Grammar Note

    This noun is always used in the plural

20. das Schmerzpflaster

    Pain relief patch

    Usage

    Point to this for a stick-on pain patch; the heat type is "das Wärmepflaster"

21. das Fiebermittel

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for something to bring a fever down; a painkiller is "das Schmerzmittel"

22. Ein Abführmittel, bitte

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Used at a pharmacy to ask for a laxative; constipation itself is "die Verstopfung"

    Grammar Note

    "Abführmittel" is a compound of "abführen" (to purge) and "Mittel" (remedy) and is neuter (das Abführmittel), hence "ein". A noun plus "bitte" is already how you ask for something in a shop

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