First Phrases

Pharmacy · Español

Pharmacy in Spanish: 12 survival phrases

Ask for help with a cough, a headache or a prescription, and find the nearest late-night pharmacy. The pharmacist is often the quickest first stop, so a few exact phrases save a lot of pointing.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "usted" with pharmacists and doctors in Spain: it is the safe default. Pharmacies display a green cross; when closed, a sign lists the nearest "farmacia de guardia" (on-duty pharmacy).

How to read the sounds: Spanish is mostly read as written. In Spain, c before e/i and z sound like English th. h is silent. ñ = ny. rr is rolled. Stress is marked in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: farmacia, receta, farmacia de guardia. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Buenos días. ¿Me puede ayudar, por favor?
    Say it like: BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs. meh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR, por fah-BOR
    Good morning. Can you help me, please?
    Register: Polite opener; "usted" verb form.
  2. 02Neutral
    Busco algo para el dolor de cabeza.
    Say it like: BOOS-koh AL-goh PAH-rah el doh-LOR deh kah-BEH-thah
    I'm looking for something for a headache.
    Register: Works for any complaint: swap "dolor de cabeza".
  3. 03Neutral
    Me duele la garganta y tengo tos.
    Say it like: meh DWEH-leh lah gar-GAN-tah ee TEN-goh tohs
    I have a sore throat and a cough.
    Register: Neutral; fine with anyone.
  4. 04Neutral
    ¿Esto necesita receta?
    Say it like: ES-toh neh-theh-SEE-tah rreh-THEH-tah
    Does this need a prescription?
    Register: Short and direct; no pronoun needed.
  5. 05Polite
    Tengo una receta. Aquí la tiene.
    Say it like: TEN-goh OO-nah rreh-THEH-tah. ah-KEE lah TYEH-neh
    I have a prescription. Here it is.
    Register: "Tiene" is the polite "you have".
  6. 06Neutral
    Soy alérgico/alérgica a la penicilina.
    Say it like: soy ah-LER-hee-koh/ah-LER-hee-kah ah lah peh-nee-thee-LEE-nah
    I'm allergic to penicillin.
    Register: Swap the drug name for your own allergy.
  7. 07Neutral
    ¿Cada cuánto tengo que tomarlo?
    Say it like: KAH-dah KWAN-toh TEN-goh keh toh-MAR-loh
    How often do I have to take it?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Polite
    ¿Me puede apuntar cómo se toma, por favor?
    Say it like: meh PWEH-deh ah-poon-TAR KOH-moh seh TOH-mah, por fah-BOR
    Could you write down how to take it, please?
    Register: Polite request.
  9. 09Polite
    ¿Tiene algún genérico más barato?
    Say it like: TYEH-neh al-GOON heh-NEH-ree-koh mahs bah-RAH-toh
    Do you have a cheaper generic version?
    Register: Pharmacists expect this question.
  10. 10Polite
    ¿Tiene algo que no dé sueño?
    Say it like: TYEH-neh AL-goh keh noh deh SWEH-nyoh
    Do you have something that doesn't make you drowsy?
    Register: Polite.
  11. 11Neutral
    ¿Dónde hay una farmacia de guardia esta noche?
    Say it like: DON-deh eye OO-nah far-MAH-thyah deh GWAR-dyah ES-tah NOH-cheh
    Where is a late-night (on-duty) pharmacy tonight?
    Register: "Farmacia de guardia" is the official on-duty rota.
  12. 12Neutral
    ¿Cuánto es? ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
    Say it like: KWAN-toh es? PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah
    How much is it? Can I pay by card?
    Register: Neutral; very common at the till.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the pharmacy in Spanish?

Start with: "Buenos días. ¿Me puede ayudar, por favor?" (Good morning. Can you help me, please?)

Should I use informal or formal Spanish at the pharmacy?

Use "usted" with pharmacists and doctors in Spain: it is the safe default. Pharmacies display a green cross; when closed, a sign lists the nearest "farmacia de guardia" (on-duty pharmacy).

How do I ask whether something needs a prescription in Spanish?

Try: "¿Esto necesita receta?" (Does this need a prescription?)

Same errand, another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands

Spanish, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat

All 5 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are in.
  2. Read the twelve phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/pharmacy/es/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint