At the Pharmacy in Spanish: Phrases From Symptom to Dosage

Nobody plans to learn pharmacy Spanish. You learn it at 9 pm in Oaxaca with a fever, pointing at your throat while the pharmacist asks you three questions you do not understand. I have been that person. This guide walks you through the whole visit in order, so the next time your stomach turns on you in Spain or Latin America, you know what to say and what is coming back at you.

Finding the Pharmacy

Look for the green cross. In most Spanish-speaking countries pharmacies are small, independent and everywhere. If it is late, you need the one on night duty.

¿Dónde hay una farmacia? (Where is there a pharmacy?)

¿Hay una farmacia de guardia cerca? (Is there an on-duty pharmacy nearby?)

In Mexico you will also hear farmacia de 24 horas (24-hour pharmacy). Many chains there have a doctor's office attached, which is handy when a pharmacist is not enough.

Step 1: Say What Hurts

Spanish does not say "my head hurts." It says "the head hurts me." Memorize the pattern me duele plus a body part, and swap the part.

Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts.)

Me duele la garganta. (My throat hurts.)

Me duele el estómago. (My stomach hurts.)

For plural body parts, switch to me duelen: Me duelen los oídos. (My ears hurt.) For symptoms that are not pain, use tengo:

Tengo fiebre. (I have a fever.)

Tengo tos y mocos. (I have a cough and a runny nose.)

Tengo diarrea desde ayer. (I have had diarrhea since yesterday.)

Estoy resfriado. (I have a cold.) Women say resfriada.

The pharmacist will ask back:

¿Desde cuándo? (Since when?) Answer with desde ayer (since yesterday) or desde hace dos días (for two days).

¿Es para usted? (Is it for you?) Reply Sí, para mí (Yes, for me) or No, para mi hijo (No, for my son).

Step 2: Ask for Something

You do not need the brand name. Describe the problem and let them recommend.

¿Tiene algo para el dolor de cabeza? (Do you have something for a headache?)

Necesito algo para la tos. (I need something for a cough.)

¿Qué me recomienda? (What do you recommend?)

¿Necesito receta? (Do I need a prescription?)

Common things you might ask for by name: paracetamol, ibuprofeno, tiritas (plasters, Spain) or curitas (Latin America), protector solar (sunscreen), repelente de mosquitos (mosquito repellent), pastillas para el mareo (motion sickness pills).

The pharmacist's follow-up questions are predictable:

¿Prefiere pastillas o jarabe? (Do you prefer tablets or syrup?)

¿Toma algún otro medicamento? (Are you taking any other medication?)

¿Es alérgico a algo? (Are you allergic to anything?) Say Soy alérgico a la penicilina (I am allergic to penicillin) or No, a nada (No, to nothing).

Step 3: Understand the Dosage

This is the part that matters, and the part most people nod through without understanding. Ask directly:

¿Cómo lo tomo? (How do I take it?)

¿Cada cuántas horas? (Every how many hours?)

Then listen for these answers:

Una cada ocho horas. (One every eight hours.)

Dos veces al día, después de comer. (Twice a day, after meals.)

No más de tres al día. (No more than three a day.)

En ayunas. (On an empty stomach.)

Durante cinco días. (For five days.)

If you did not catch it, say ¿Me lo puede escribir? (Can you write it down for me?). Every pharmacist will. The box also comes with a prospecto (information leaflet), which is dense but reliable.

Step 4: Pay and Double-Check

¿Cuánto es? (How much is it?)

¿Hay genérico? (Is there a generic?) Generics are often half the price and pharmacists rarely offer them unprompted.

¿Tiene efectos secundarios? (Does it have side effects?)

¿Puedo tomar alcohol con esto? (Can I drink alcohol with this?) Not glamorous, but on a trip it is the question people actually have.

Mini Dialogue

You walk in with a sore throat and a cough.

Tú: Buenas. Me duele la garganta y tengo tos desde hace dos días. (Hi. My throat hurts and I have had a cough for two days.)

Farmacéutica: ¿Tiene fiebre? (Do you have a fever?)

Tú: Un poco, creo. ¿Qué me recomienda? (A little, I think. What do you recommend?)

Farmacéutica: Le doy unas pastillas para la garganta y un jarabe para la tos. ¿Es alérgico a algo? (I will give you some throat lozenges and a cough syrup. Are you allergic to anything?)

Tú: No, a nada. ¿Cómo tomo el jarabe? (No, to nothing. How do I take the syrup?)

Farmacéutica: Una cucharada tres veces al día, después de comer. (One spoonful three times a day, after meals.)

Tú: Perfecto. ¿Cuánto es? (Perfect. How much is it?)

This is roughly the exchange I practiced on repeat in a Nativia pharmacy scenario before a trip to Colombia. The real pharmacist said almost exactly these lines, which was mildly spooky.

Test Yourself

You are at the counter. Pick what you would say or how you would reply.

Pharmacy Cheat Sheet