First Phrases

Pharmacy · Italiano

Pharmacy in Italian: 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 "Lei" (polite you) with pharmacists and doctors in Italy. Pharmacies show a green cross; a closed one lists the nearest "farmacia di turno" (on-duty pharmacy) on the door.

How to read the sounds: Italian is spoken as written. Double consonants (tt, ll, zz) are held longer. c before e/i = ch, g before e/i = j, gn = ny, gli = ly, sc before e/i = sh. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: farmacia, ricetta, farmacia di turno. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Buongiorno. Mi può aiutare, per favore?
    Say it like: bwon-JOR-noh. mee pwoh ah-yoo-TAH-reh, per fah-VOH-reh
    Good morning. Can you help me, please?
    Register: Polite; "Lei" verb form.
  2. 02Neutral
    Cerco qualcosa per il mal di testa.
    Say it like: CHER-koh kwal-KOH-zah per eel mal dee TES-tah
    I'm looking for something for a headache.
    Register: Swap "mal di testa" for your complaint.
  3. 03Neutral
    Ho mal di gola e tosse.
    Say it like: oh mal dee GOH-lah eh TOS-seh
    I have a sore throat and a cough.
    Register: Neutral.
  4. 04Neutral
    Per questo serve la ricetta?
    Say it like: per KWES-toh SER-veh lah ree-CHET-tah
    Do I need a prescription for this?
    Register: Neutral.
  5. 05Neutral
    Ho una ricetta. Ecco qui.
    Say it like: oh OO-nah ree-CHET-tah. EK-koh kwee
    I have a prescription. Here it is.
    Register: Neutral.
  6. 06Neutral
    Sono allergico/allergica alla penicillina.
    Say it like: SOH-noh al-LER-jee-koh/al-LER-jee-kah AL-lah peh-nee-cheel-LEE-nah
    I'm allergic to penicillin.
    Register: Swap the drug name for your own allergy.
  7. 07Neutral
    Ogni quanto devo prenderlo?
    Say it like: OH-nyee KWAHN-toh DEH-voh PREN-der-loh
    How often do I have to take it?
    Register: Neutral.
  8. 08Polite
    Mi può scrivere come si prende, per favore?
    Say it like: mee pwoh SKREE-veh-reh KOH-meh see PREN-deh, per fah-VOH-reh
    Could you write down how to take it, please?
    Register: Polite.
  9. 09Polite
    Ha un farmaco equivalente più economico?
    Say it like: ah oon FAR-mah-koh eh-kwee-vah-LEN-teh pyoo eh-koh-NOH-mee-koh
    Do you have a cheaper equivalent (generic) medicine?
    Register: "Equivalente" is the official word for generic in Italy.
  10. 10Polite
    Ha qualcosa che non faccia venire sonno?
    Say it like: ah kwal-KOH-zah keh non FAH-chah veh-NEE-reh SON-noh
    Do you have something that doesn't make you sleepy?
    Register: Polite.
  11. 11Neutral
    Dov'è la farmacia di turno stanotte?
    Say it like: doh-VEH lah far-mah-CHEE-ah dee TOOR-noh stah-NOT-teh
    Where is the on-duty pharmacy tonight?
    Register: "Di turno" = on the rota.
  12. 12Neutral
    Quanto costa? Posso pagare con la carta?
    Say it like: KWAHN-toh KOS-tah? POS-soh pah-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tah
    How much is it? Can I pay by card?
    Register: Neutral.

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Quick answers

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

Start with: "Buongiorno. Mi può aiutare, per favore?" (Good morning. Can you help me, please?)

Should I use informal or formal Italian at the pharmacy?

Use "Lei" (polite you) with pharmacists and doctors in Italy. Pharmacies show a green cross; a closed one lists the nearest "farmacia di turno" (on-duty pharmacy) on the door.

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

Try: "Per questo serve la ricetta?" (Do I need a prescription for this?)

Same errand, another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands

Italian, 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/it/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint