First Phrases

Pharmacy · Français

Pharmacy in French: 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 "vous" with pharmacists and doctors in France. A closed pharmacy shows the address of the nearest "pharmacie de garde" (on-duty pharmacy) on the door.

How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: pharmacie, ordonnance, pharmacie de garde. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Bonjour. Pourriez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: bon-ZHOOR. poo-ree-AY-voo meh-DAY, seel voo PLAY
    Hello. Could you help me, please?
    Register: Polite; "bonjour" first is essential in France.
  2. 02Neutral
    Je cherche quelque chose contre le mal de tête.
    Say it like: zhuh shersh KEL-kuh shohz KON-truh luh mal duh TET
    I'm looking for something for a headache.
    Register: Swap "le mal de tête" for your complaint.
  3. 03Neutral
    J'ai mal à la gorge et je tousse.
    Say it like: zhay mal ah lah GORZH ay zhuh TOOSS
    I have a sore throat and a cough.
    Register: Neutral.
  4. 04Neutral
    Est-ce que ça nécessite une ordonnance ?
    Say it like: es-kuh sah nay-seh-SEET oon or-doh-NONSS
    Does this need a prescription?
    Register: Neutral.
  5. 05Neutral
    J'ai une ordonnance. La voici.
    Say it like: zhay oon or-doh-NONSS. lah vwah-SEE
    I have a prescription. Here it is.
    Register: Neutral.
  6. 06Neutral
    Je suis allergique à la pénicilline.
    Say it like: zhuh swee-zah-ler-ZHEEK ah lah pay-nee-see-LEEN
    I'm allergic to penicillin.
    Register: Swap the drug name for your own allergy.
  7. 07Polite
    À quelle fréquence dois-je le prendre ?
    Say it like: ah kel fray-KONSS dwahzh luh PRON-druh
    How often should I take it?
    Register: Slightly formal inversion; "À quelle fréquence je le prends ?" is casual.
  8. 08Polite
    Pouvez-vous m'écrire comment le prendre ?
    Say it like: poo-VAY-voo may-KREER koh-MON luh PRON-druh
    Could you write down how to take it?
    Register: Polite.
  9. 09Polite
    Avez-vous un générique moins cher ?
    Say it like: ah-VAY-voo an zhay-nay-REEK mwan SHAIR
    Do you have a cheaper generic version?
    Register: Polite.
  10. 10Polite
    Avez-vous quelque chose qui ne rend pas somnolent ?
    Say it like: ah-VAY-voo KEL-kuh shohz kee nuh ron pah som-noh-LON
    Do you have something that doesn't make you drowsy?
    Register: Polite.
  11. 11Neutral
    Où est la pharmacie de garde ce soir ?
    Say it like: oo ay lah far-mah-SEE duh GARD suh SWAHR
    Where is the on-duty pharmacy tonight?
    Register: "Pharmacie de garde" is the official on-duty rota.
  12. 12Neutral
    C'est combien ? Je peux payer par carte ?
    Say it like: say kom-BYAN? zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART
    How much is it? Can I pay by card?
    Register: Neutral; common at the till.

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Quick answers

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

Start with: "Bonjour. Pourriez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ?" (Hello. Could you help me, please?)

Should I use informal or formal French at the pharmacy?

Use "vous" with pharmacists and doctors in France. A closed pharmacy shows the address of the nearest "pharmacie de garde" (on-duty pharmacy) on the door.

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

Try: "Est-ce que ça nécessite une ordonnance ?" (Does this need a prescription?)

Same errand, another language

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French, 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/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint