English for the Pharmacy: Symptoms, Medicine and Advice
Three short sentences carry most pharmacy visits in English: I've got a sore throat and a cough. Do you have anything for it? How many times a day should I take it? A pharmacy conversation is a short round of describing a problem, asking for something, and checking the instructions.
Below: describing symptoms, asking for medicine, prescription and over-the-counter words, doses, two short dialogues, and the words beginners mix up most.
Describing your symptoms
Name the problem and say how long it has lasted. Two short sentences are usually enough.
| Situation | What to say |
|---|---|
| A sore throat | I've got a sore throat and it hurts when I swallow. |
| A headache that continues | I've had a headache for two days and it won't go away. |
| Feeling unwell | I think I'm coming down with something. |
| A skin problem | I've got a rash on my arm. |
| How long | It started three days ago. |
Use I've got for the symptom and a time phrase for the duration. The doctor visit phrases use the same descriptions when the problem needs a medical appointment rather than a pharmacy counter.
Asking for something for a problem
The frame Do you have anything for + problem is fast and polite, and it leaves the choice of product to the pharmacist.
| Problem | What to say |
|---|---|
| A cough | Do you have anything for a cough? |
| An upset stomach | I need something for an upset stomach. |
| Hay fever | Is there anything for hay fever? |
| Pain | Something for the pain, please. |
Prescription and over-the-counter
Know which kind of medicine you need before you queue.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| prescription | A doctor's written order for a medicine | Here's my prescription. Can I collect it? |
| over-the-counter (OTC) | Sold without a prescription | I'd prefer something over-the-counter. |
| pharmacist | The person who prepares and explains medicines | Could I speak to the pharmacist, please? |
A pharmacist can explain a medicine and answer questions about it, but cannot give a diagnosis. If your problem needs a medical decision, they will point you to a doctor; the appointment phrases help there.
Dose and instructions
Listen, then repeat the instruction back; that habit prevents most misunderstandings.
| Question or instruction | What it means |
|---|---|
| How many times a day should I take it? | Ask about the daily dose |
| Take one tablet twice a day after meals. | One in the morning, one in the evening, with food |
| One dose every six hours. | Four doses across a full day |
| Finish the course. | Keep taking it for the full number of days |
Useful check: So, one tablet in the morning and one at night, after food? A pharmacist would rather answer twice than send you home unsure.
What the pharmacist asks you
These questions come early, and short answers are fine.
- Are you allergic to anything? — Not that I know of. / Yes, I'm allergic to penicillin.
- Are you taking any other medication? — Yes, I take tablets for my blood pressure.
- Any other symptoms? — No, just the cough.
- How long have you had this? — Since Monday.
- Do you have a prescription for it? — Yes, here it is. / No, I'd like something over-the-counter.
Dialogue 1: buying something for a cough
| Pharmacist | You |
|---|---|
| Hello. How can I help you? | I've got a cough, and it's worse at night. |
| How long have you had it? | About four days. It started after a cold. |
| Try this syrup. One spoonful twice a day after meals. | So, one in the morning and one at night, after food? |
| That's right. Finish the bottle, and see a doctor if it lasts more than two weeks. | Thank you. How much is it? |
Note the last line: a good pharmacy answer includes when to come back or see a doctor.
Dialogue 2: collecting a prescription
| Pharmacist | You |
|---|---|
| Good morning. Do you have a prescription for us? | Yes, here it is. I'm collecting it for Maria Lopez. |
| Thank you. We have it ready. | It's for my mother, actually. She's at home. |
| Fine. It's one tablet once a day, in the morning, before food. | Before food, once a day. Can she take it with other medicine? |
| She should ask the pharmacist before adding anything new. | Understood. Is this covered by insurance? |
| Yes, there's a small charge. Do you have a loyalty card? | Yes, here you are. |
Medicine words to know
- painkiller — a medicine for pain.
- plaster — a small sticky strip for a cut; a bandage wraps a larger injury.
- syrup — liquid medicine, often for a cough.
- ointment — a cream for the skin; drops go into the eyes, ears or nose.
- hay fever — an allergy with sneezing and itchy eyes.
- upset stomach — a feeling of discomfort in the stomach.
Common mistakes to correct early
- symptom and sign. A symptom is what you feel; a sign is what others can see.
- Medicine counted like a table. Medicine is uncountable: take some medicine, not take a medicine.
- Advice with an article. Advice is uncountable: some advice or a piece of advice, never an advice.
- ache and pain. An ache is dull and continuous, as in a headache; pain is sharper and general.
- hurt as a noun. Hurt is a verb or an adjective: My throat hurts. For the noun, use pain.
These follow the same rules as other everyday words; the common mistakes for beginners page gathers more.
Language, not medical advice
This article teaches the English used in a pharmacy. It is language teaching, not medical advice: it does not diagnose a condition, and it does not promise that any medicine will cure anything. For your own symptoms and medicines, ask a pharmacist or doctor, and follow the label or your prescription.
Frequently asked questions
How do I describe a symptom at the pharmacy?
Use I've got plus the symptom: I've got a sore throat, a rash, or a headache that won't go away. Add how long it has lasted, as in It started three days ago. Keep it short, and the pharmacist will ask follow-up questions.
What is the difference between prescription and over-the-counter medicine?
A prescription medicine needs a doctor's written order and is dispensed by the pharmacist. Over-the-counter medicine can be bought without one. If you are unsure, ask: Do I need a prescription for this?
How do I ask how to take my medicine?
Say How should I take this? or How many times a day? A typical answer is take one tablet twice a day after meals. Repeat it back to check: So, one tablet in the morning and one at night, after food.
What does finish the course mean?
It means keep taking the medicine for the full number of days, even if you feel better, unless the pharmacist or doctor tells you to stop. If you are unsure, ask: Should I finish the whole course?
Is medicine countable or uncountable?
Medicine is usually uncountable when it means a substance, as in take some medicine. It becomes countable when it means a type, as in two different medicines. Advice is always uncountable: some advice, a piece of advice, never an advice.