Spanish - Pharmacy

Lesson 116 of 159

Student learning Spanish pharmacy phrases; asking for medicine at a pharmacy to practice real travel and health situations.

Goal: Ask for medicines, dosage and safety

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome — let’s get you comfortable asking for medicine at a pharmacy. This short lesson focuses on practical phrases you can use right away when you need help with symptoms, prescriptions, or interactions.

Level A2: In this lesson you’ll practice useful pharmacy phrases for asking for medicine, checking prescriptions, dosage, side effects and whether medicines are safe together. CEFR-aligned and focused on real questions you’d ask a pharmacist.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask for medicine for a symptom and describe basic symptoms.
  • Ask if a prescription is needed and whether a medicine is available without one.
  • Ask about dosage, frequency, side effects and drug interactions.
A friendly pharmacy counter scene illustrating common Spanish questions for medicine, useful for English speakers practicing Spanish.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Necesito algo para ___.

I need something for ___.

Meaning: I need something for ___.

When to use: Use this when you want medicine for a symptom (e.g., cough, headache). Say the symptom after the blank.

Tip: Don’t swap para for por here — 'para' indicates purpose (for a symptom).

Necesito algo para la tos.
I need something for a cough.
Necesito algo para el dolor de cabeza.
I need something for a headache.

¿Tiene algo para ___?

Do you have anything for ___?

Meaning: Do you have anything for ___?

When to use: Ask the pharmacist politely if they stock medicine for a specific symptom or problem.

¿Tiene algo para la fiebre?
Do you have anything for fever?
¿Tiene algo para náuseas?
Do you have anything for nausea?

Tengo ___.

I have a ___.

Meaning: I have ___.

When to use: State a symptom simply when the pharmacist asks what’s wrong.

Tengo dolor de garganta.
I have a sore throat.
Tengo fiebre y escalofríos.
I have a fever and chills.

¿Necesito receta?

Do I need a prescription?

Meaning: Do I need a prescription?

When to use: Ask this when you’re unsure whether a medicine requires a medical prescription.

Tip: Beginners sometimes add an article ('¿Necesito una receta?') — this is also correct, but the short form '¿Necesito receta?' is very common in pharmacies.

¿Necesito receta para este antibiótico?
Do I need a prescription for this antibiotic?
¿Necesito receta para la vacuna?
Do I need a prescription for the vaccine?

¿Cada cuánto debo tomarlo?

How often should I take it?

Meaning: How often should I take it?

When to use: Ask this to confirm the dosage frequency for a medicine.

¿Cada cuánto debo tomarlo si es cada dosis?
How often should I take it if it’s by dose?
¿Cada cuánto debo tomarlo durante el día?
How often should I take it during the day?

¿Cuántas debo tomar?

How many should I take?

Meaning: How many should I take?

When to use: Use this when you want the number of pills or tablets to take at one time.

Tip: Don’t confuse amount with frequency: '¿Cuántas debo tomar?' is for pills; for liquids you might ask '¿Qué cantidad debo tomar?'.

¿Cuántas debo tomar en un día?
How many should I take in one day?
¿Cuántas debo tomar con comida?
How many should I take with food?

¿Debo tomarlo con comida?

Should I take it with food?

Meaning: Should I take it with food?

When to use: Ask if a medicine is best taken with a meal or on an empty stomach.

¿Debo tomarlo con comida o en ayunas?
Should I take it with food or on an empty stomach?
Mi medicamento dice: ¿Debo tomarlo con comida?
My medicine says: Should I take it with food?

¿Tiene efectos secundarios?

Are there any side effects?

Meaning: Are there any side effects?

When to use: Ask this to learn about possible adverse effects before taking a medicine.

¿Tiene efectos secundarios como mareos?
Does it have side effects like dizziness?
¿Tiene efectos secundarios en el sueño?
Does it have side effects on sleep?

¿Puedo tomar esto con ___?

Can I take this with ___?

Meaning: Can I take this with ___?

When to use: Use this to ask whether the new medicine is safe with another medicine, alcohol, or supplements.

¿Puedo tomar esto con ibuprofeno?
Can I take this with ibuprofen?
¿Puedo tomar esto con alcohol?
Can I take this with alcohol?

¿Se puede comprar sin receta?

Is this available without a prescription?

Meaning: Is this available without a prescription?

When to use: Ask whether a medicine can be bought over the counter (without a receta).

¿Se puede comprar sin receta este antibiótico?
Can this antibiotic be bought without a prescription?
¿Se puede comprar sin receta el jarabe para la tos?
Can the cough syrup be bought without a prescription?

¿Hay versión genérica?

Is there a generic version?

Meaning: Is there a generic version?

When to use: Ask this to find a cheaper non-brand option of a medicine.

¿Hay versión genérica de este medicamento?
Is there a generic version of this medication?
¿Hay versión genérica más barata?
Is there a cheaper generic version?

Tomo ___ todos los días.

I take ___ every day.

Meaning: I take ___ every day.

When to use: Tell the pharmacist about medicines or supplements you use regularly.

Tomo insulina todos los días.
I take insulin every day.
Tomo vitaminas todos los días.
I take vitamins every day.

¿Es seguro para ___?

Is this safe for ___?

Meaning: Is this safe for ___?

When to use: Ask whether a medicine is safe for a group or condition (children, pregnancy, elderly).

¿Es seguro para mujeres embarazadas?
Is it safe for pregnant women?
¿Es seguro para niños pequeños?
Is it safe for small children?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna buys cough medicine and checks safety with a daily medicine.

Two people at a pharmacy using Spanish phrases to ask about symptoms, dosage and safety—a short, realistic conversation.

Why is Anna at the pharmacy?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Hola, necesito algo para la tos.

Hi, I need something for a cough.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¿Desde cuándo tiene la tos?

Since when have you had the cough?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Dos días. Tengo fiebre y tomo ibuprofeno todos los días.

Two days. I have a fever and I take ibuprofen every day.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Le recomiendo este jarabe.

I recommend this syrup.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Puedo tomar esto con ibuprofeno?

Can I take this with ibuprofen?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Sí, es seguro.

Yes, it’s safe.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Cada cuánto debo tomarlo?

How often should I take it?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Cada ocho horas, una cucharada.

Every eight hours, one spoonful.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you ask, 'Do I need a prescription?'

Which phrase asks 'Can I take this with ___?'

How do you ask 'How many should I take?' at the pharmacy?

Which phrase asks about a cheaper non-brand option?

At the counter, you want something for a headache. You say: Necesito algo para el dolor de cabeza.

At the counter, you want something for a headache. You say: ___.

You take vitamins every day. Tell the pharmacist: Tomo vitaminas todos los días.

You take vitamins every day. Tell the pharmacist: ___.

You were given a pill and want to know if you should eat first. Ask: ¿Debo tomarlo con comida?

You were given a pill and want to know if you should eat first. Ask: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Necesito algo para ___.

I need something for ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Tiene algo para ___?

Do you have anything for ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tengo ___.

I have ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Necesito receta?

Do I need a prescription?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cada cuánto debo tomarlo?

How often should I take it?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cuántas debo tomar?

How many should I take?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Debo tomarlo con comida?

Should I take it with food?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Tiene efectos secundarios?

Are there any side effects?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedo tomar esto con ___?

Can I take this with ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Se puede comprar sin receta?

Is this available without a prescription?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Hay versión genérica?

Is there a generic version?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tomo ___ todos los días.

I take ___ every day.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Es seguro para ___?

Is this safe for ___?