At the Pharmacy in Mexico
This lesson teaches language, not medical advice. For health decisions, speak with a pharmacist or doctor. The goal here is to help you understand and be understood in Spanish when you need something at a farmacia.
Quick answer
- Say what hurts: Me duele la cabeza.
- Ask for help: ¿Tiene algo para la tos?
- Confirm the instructions: ¿Cada cuántas horas?
Saying how you feel
Use me duele for one thing that hurts and me duelen for more than one. Use tengo for symptoms like cough, fever, or an allergy.
Examples
- Me duele la garganta.My throat hurts.One thing hurts.
- Me duelen los pies.My feet hurt.More than one.
- Tengo tos y un poco de fiebre.I have a cough and a little fever.Tener for symptoms.
- Soy alérgico a la penicilina.I am allergic to penicillin.Important to say.
Asking for help
Start with Disculpe. Ask what they have for something, or whether you need a prescription (receta).
Examples
- ¿Qué me recomienda para el dolor de cabeza?What do you recommend for a headache?Ask for a suggestion.
- ¿Necesito receta para esto?Do I need a prescription for this?Ask about the rule.
- ¿Tiene algo sin receta?Do you have something without a prescription?Ask for options.
- ¿Lo tiene en pastillas o en jarabe?Do you have it in pills or syrup?Ask about the form.
Understanding the instructions
The pharmacist may tell you how often to take something. Listen for numbers and time words, and ask to repeat if needed.
Examples
- Una pastilla cada ocho horas.One pill every eight hours.Frequency.
- Tómela después de comer.Take it after eating.When.
- No más de tres al día.No more than three a day.Limit.
- ¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor?Could you repeat that, please?Ask to repeat.
At the counter
A customer and the pharmacist.
Examples
- Buenas tardes. Me duele mucho la garganta y tengo tos.Good afternoon. My throat hurts a lot and I have a cough.Symptoms.
- ¿Desde cuándo se siente así?Since when have you felt this way?Pharmacist asks.
- Desde hace dos días. ¿Tiene algo sin receta?For two days. Do you have something without a prescription?Answer and ask.
- Sí. Es una pastilla cada ocho horas, después de comer.Yes. It is one pill every eight hours, after eating.Instructions.
- Entonces, ¿una cada ocho horas?So, one every eight hours?Confirming.
- Correcto. Si no mejora, consulte a un médico.Correct. If it does not improve, see a doctor.Closing.
Spanish around the world
- In Mexico, many pharmacies have an in-house doctor next door (consultorio). Prescriptions are called receta. Some medicines are sold only with one. Pharmacies are called farmacia, and you may hear botica in other countries.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Yo tengo dolor la cabeza.
Correct: Me duele la cabeza.
Use doler with an indirect pronoun.
Incorrect: Me duele los pies.
Correct: Me duelen los pies.
Los pies is plural.
Incorrect: Soy tos.
Correct: Tengo tos.
Use tener for symptoms.
Incorrect: Tomar la pastilla cada ocho hora.
Correct: Una pastilla cada ocho horas.
Horas is plural.
Remember these
- Me duele (one thing) and me duelen (several).
- Tengo + symptom: tengo tos, tengo fiebre.
- Confirm: ¿Cada cuántas horas? and ¿Me lo puede repetir?
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I say what hurts in Spanish?
Use me duele or me duelen plus the body part.
What is a receta?
A prescription from a doctor.
What if I do not understand the instructions?
Ask ¿Me lo puede repetir más despacio? or ask them to write it down.
Is this lesson medical advice?
No. It is language practice. For health decisions, talk to a pharmacist or doctor.
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