Me encuentro mal.
I feel unwell.
Tengo dolor de garganta.
I have a sore throat.
Spanish for real life · explained in English
At the pharmacy in Spain: what to say in Spanish
Start with what is wrong: “Me encuentro mal, tengo dolor de garganta” (I feel unwell, I have a sore throat). In Spain the pharmacist genuinely advises you and will often hand you something without a prescription. Say what you already take, and ask how often to take it.
Spanish phrases with translations
Three things carry this conversation: what hurts, what you take already, and how to take what they give you.
Me empezó hace dos días.
It started two days ago.
No tengo fiebre.
I don't have a fever.
¿Me puede recomendar algo?
Can you recommend something?
¿Hace falta receta?
Do I need a prescription?
¿Cada cuánto lo tomo?
How often do I take it?
¿Cuántos días?
For how many days?
¿Hay algo más barato?
Is there anything cheaper?
¿Tienen genérico?
Do you have a generic?
A dialogue to read aloud
Read one role and then the other. The translations are there to understand it; try it again afterwards without looking.
- Farmacéutica
Buenos días, ¿qué le pasa?
Good morning, what's the matter?
- Cliente
Me encuentro mal. Tengo dolor de garganta desde hace dos días.
I feel unwell. I've had a sore throat for two days.
- Farmacéutica
¿Fiebre? ¿Toma alguna otra medicación?
Any fever? Are you taking any other medication?
- Cliente
No tengo fiebre. No tomo nada más. ¿Cada cuánto lo tomo?
No fever. I'm not taking anything else. How often do I take it?
What to know before you go
- The green cross means pharmacy, and there is always one open late — look for «farmacia de guardia».
- «¿Hace falta receta?» (do I need a prescription?) saves a wasted trip to a doctor for something you can buy over the counter.
- Answer «¿toma alguna otra medicación?» even if the answer is a vitamin. It is the question the advice depends on.
Now it's your turn to talk
Without reading, say what is wrong and since when, then ask two questions about the medicine.
Practise the counter at Farmàcia Serra →
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