What to say at the pharmacy in Italian
Ho mal di testa da due giorni.
“I've had a headache for two days.”
When: Explaining your symptom at the counter
The moment
You duck into a farmacia near Piazza Navona with a headache that started two days ago and eyes streaming from the pollen. You want something mild, and you want to know how to take it.
A2 · Unit 3 · Daily life
The lines
Ho mal di + since when
In Italian you have the ache: "Ho mal di testa da due giorni." Swap testa for gola, stomaco or schiena, and add da plus a length of time to say it is still going on.
Ho mal di testa da due giorni.
“I've had a headache for two days.”
When to use it: Explaining your symptom at the counter
What you’ll hear back: Ha anche la febbre? (Do you have a fever too?)
Asking what they recommend
The farmacia is the first stop for anything minor in Italy, so hand them the problem: "Cosa mi consiglia per il raffreddore?" Put any complaint after per and let them pick the box.
Cosa mi consiglia per il raffreddore?
“What do you recommend for a cold?”
When to use it: When you want their suggestion, not a brand
What you’ll hear back: Le consiglio queste bustine, sono senza ricetta. (I recommend these sachets, no prescription needed.)
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Sono allergico al polline. | SOH-noh al-LEHR-jee-koh al POL-lee-neh | I am allergic to pollen. |
Sono allergico al polline e da marzo ho gli occhi che bruciano. I am allergic to pollen and since March my eyes have been burning. Tip: Women say allergica; mention it before they hand you anything. | ||
| Quante volte al giorno lo devo prendere? | KWAN-teh VOL-teh al JOR-noh loh DEH-voh PREN-deh-reh | How many times a day do I have to take it? |
Va bene, ma quante volte al giorno lo devo prendere? All right, but how many times a day do I have to take it? Tip: Listen back for ogni otto ore and prima o dopo i pasti. | ||
| Serve la ricetta? | SEHR-veh lah ree-CHET-tah | Do I need a prescription? |
Scusi, serve la ricetta per questo sciroppo? Excuse me, do I need a prescription for this syrup? Tip: Antibiotics always need one; painkillers almost never do. | ||
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
- Cosa mi consiglia per il raffreddore?
- Quante volte al giorno lo devo prendere? · How many times a day do I have to take it?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. Your head has been hurting since the day before yesterday. How do you say it?
- Ho mal di testa da due giorni.
- Sono mal di testa da due giorni.
- Ho mal di testa fra due giorni.
- Faccio mal di testa da due giorni.
Show the answer
Ho mal di testa da due giorni.
Aches go with ho, and da plus a time says the pain is still there.
2. You want the pharmacist's own suggestion for your cold. What do you say?
- Cosa mi consiglia per il raffreddore?
- Cosa mi consiglia il raffreddore?
- Cosa consiglio per il raffreddore?
- Come mi consiglia il raffreddore?
Show the answer
Cosa mi consiglia per il raffreddore?
Mi consiglia asks what they advise you, and per names the problem.
3. The pharmacist hands you a box and you want the dosage. What do you ask?
- Quante volte al giorno lo devo prendere?
- Quante volte al giorno lo devo mangiare?
- Quanto tempo al giorno lo devo prendere?
- Quante volte al giorno lo devo pagare?
Show the answer
Quante volte al giorno lo devo prendere?
Prendere is the verb Italians use for taking medicine.