What to say at the pharmacy in French
Bonjour, j'ai mal à la gorge et je tousse.
“Hello, I have a sore throat and a cough.”
When: Your opening line at the counter
The moment
You push open the door of a pharmacy on rue de Rennes in Paris with a sore throat and a cough. You describe how you feel and let the pharmacist choose something for you.
A2 · Unit 3 · Daily life
The lines
Naming the symptom
In French the pain belongs to you: j'ai mal à plus the body part. Chain a second symptom with et so the pharmacist gets the whole picture in one breath.
Bonjour, j'ai mal à la gorge et je tousse.
“Hello, I have a sore throat and a cough.”
When to use it: Your opening line at the counter
What you’ll hear back: Vous avez de la fièvre ? (Do you have a fever?)
Asking what they recommend
Rather than pointing at a box, hand the decision over with "Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?" French pharmacists are trained to advise and will pick the product for you.
Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?
“What do you recommend?”
When to use it: Right after you describe the symptom
What you’ll hear back: Je vous conseille ce sirop, deux cuillères le soir. (I recommend this syrup, two spoonfuls in the evening.)
Words for this scene
| French | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vous avez quelque chose contre les allergies ? | voo zah-VAY kel-kuh SHOHZ kohn-truh lay zah-lehr-ZHEE | Do you have something for allergies? |
Bonjour, vous avez quelque chose contre les allergies ? Hello, do you have something for allergies? Tip: Contre plus the problem works for any ailment at the counter. | ||
| combien de fois par jour | kohm-BYAN duh fwah par ZHOOR | how many times a day |
Je dois en prendre combien de fois par jour ? How many times a day should I take it? Tip: Ask before you leave; they often write the dose on the box. | ||
| sans ordonnance | sahn zor-doh-NAHNSS | without a prescription, over the counter |
Est-ce que ce médicament est sans ordonnance ? Is this medicine available without a prescription? Tip: Even paracetamol sits behind the counter, so you must ask aloud. | ||
Your objective
Describe two symptoms and since when; when they suggest something you can’t take, ask for something else and how to take it.
- two symptoms
- asking for something else
- how to take it
Lines that get it done
- Bonjour, j'ai mal à la gorge et je tousse.
- Vous avez quelque chose contre les allergies ? · Do you have something for allergies?
- Je dois en prendre combien de fois par jour ? · How many times a day should I take it?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to tell the pharmacist your throat hurts. What do you say?
- J'ai mal à la gorge.
- Je suis mal à la gorge.
- J'ai mal la gorge.
- Je suis malade à la gorge.
Show the answer
J'ai mal à la gorge.
French uses avoir mal à plus the body part, never être mal.
2. You have described your cold and want the pharmacist to choose a remedy. What do you ask?
- Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?
- Qu'est-ce que je vous dois ?
- Qu'est-ce que vous voulez ?
- Qu'est-ce que vous cherchez ?
Show the answer
Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?
Conseiller is the verb for advising; qu'est-ce que je vous dois asks what you owe.
3. The pharmacist says: un comprimé matin et soir, après les repas. What are you being told?
- One tablet morning and evening, after meals.
- One tablet every morning, before meals.
- Two tablets a day, with a glass of water.
- One tablet only if the pain comes back.
Show the answer
One tablet morning and evening, after meals.
Matin et soir means morning and evening, and après les repas means after meals.