Italian DIALOGUE at the PHARMACY: Words and Expressions

Come to the LEARNAMO pharmacy to discover all the most common words and expressions needed to speak at a PHARMACY in Italy! I’ll help various costumers, you’ll listen to the dialogues and find the explanations and definitions of the most relevant words or expressions on the screen. If they’re too fast for you, you can always pause the video, read carefully, and play it again right away.

Useful WORDS and EXPRESSIONS at the PHARMACY

DIALOGUE #1

Pharmacist: Salve, come posso aiutarla? [Hi, how can I help you?]

Costumer: Buongiorno, vorrei un rimedio per il mal di testa. Oggi non è proprio giornata. [Good morning, I would like a remedy for headache. Today is really not a good day.]

Pharmacist: Capisco. Da quanto tempo presenta questo sintomo? [I understand. How long have you been having this symptom?]

Costumer: Da circa due o tre ore. [For about two or three hours.]

Pharmacist: Ha provato a misurare la pressione? [Have you tried taking your blood pressure?]

Costumer: A dire il vero no. È possibile misurarla qui? [Actually, no. Is it possible to measure it here?]

Pharmacist: Sì, certamente. Mi porga il braccio sinistro e tiri su la camicia. [Yes, of course. Extend your left arm to me and pull up your shirt.]

Costumer: Ecco qui. [Here you are.]

Pharmacist: Vedo che soffre di pressione alta. Ne era a conoscenza? [I see you have high blood pressure. Did you know about it?]

Cliente: No, non lo sapevo. [No, I didn’t know.]

Pharmacist: Dovrebbe farsi prescrivere qualcosa dal suo medico curante. Esistono diversi farmaci utili a tenere questa patologia sotto controllo. Di solito vanno assuntial mattino, meglio se al risveglio. Però, per acquistarli, è necessaria una ricetta. Può inviarmela tramite e-mail e passare a ritirare il farmaco nel primo pomeriggio. [You should get something prescribed by your doctor. There are several medications that can be used to keep this pathology under control. They are usually taken in the morning, preferably upon waking. However, to buy them you need a prescription. You can send it me per e-mail and pick up the drug in the early afternoon.]

Costumer: Grazie mille, a più tardi. [Thank you very much, see you later.]

Rimedio [Remedy]: preparation used to cure a desease or to relieve its symptoms, that is make them slighter.
Mal di testa [Headache]: pain felt anywhere in the head (also called “cefalea”. There are also: mal di pancia [tummy ache], mal di stomaco [stomach ache], mal di denti [toothache], mal di gola [sore throat].
Sintomo [Symptom]: manifestation of a phatological state, felt subjectively by the patient and detectable by the doctor.
Pressione (sanguigna) [Blood pressure]: pressure exerted by blood in the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels). Blood pressure can be measured with a specific machine and it can be high or low.
Medico curante (anche “medico di base” o “medico di famiglia”) [Doctor (also “basic doctor” or “family doctor”)]: doctor chosen by every citizen for a non specialist, first-level, general, basic health care.
Farmaco [Drug]: product (natural or chemical) which produces effects on the body’s functions, with the task of curing a desease or, in any case, keeping it under control, so that it does not get worse.
Patologia [Pathology]: synonymous with “desease”.
Ricetta [Prescription]: document written by the doctor, necessary to buy specific medicines at the pharmacy. It also often contains consumption instructions for the patient. Medicines that can be bought without a prescription are called “over-the-counter drugs”.

DIALOGUE #2

Pharmacist: Buongiorno, come posso esserle utile? [Good morning, how can I help you?]

Costumer: Mi servirebbero delle pastiglie per il mal di gola. [I would need some tablets for a sore throat.]

Pharmacist: Lei è già la seconda persona che mi chiede un rimedio per il mal di gola oggi. [You’re already the second person who asks me for a sore throat remedy.]

Costumer: Già, con l’arrivo dell’autunno i malanni di stagione sono all’ordine del giorno. [Yes, with the arrival of fall seasonal illnesses are on the agenda.]

Pharmacist: Le consiglio queste caramelle menta-eucalipto ad azione antisettica. [I suggest you these mint-eucalyptus candies with an antiseptic action.]

Costumer: Grazie, vanno benissimo. Per caso può aggiungere al mio ordine anche uno spray per combattere il naso chiuso? [Thank you, they’re great. Could you also add a stuffy nose spray to my order?]

Pharmacist: Certo. Può prendere questo qui. [Sure. You can take this one here.]

Costumer: Il mio naso è molto fragile e soffro di epistassi: mi esce spesso il sangue dal naso… [My nose is very delicate and I suffer from epistaxis: I often have nosebleeds…]

Pharmacist: Capisco… Non si preoccupi! Questo tipo di spray può essere somministrato anche ai bambini sopra i 12 anni. [I understand…Don’t worry! This type of spray can also be given to children aged 12 years.]

Costumer: Ottimo! Ah, visto che ci sono, vorrei qualcosa per i miei occhi che, con queste basse temperature diventano frequentemente secchi e arrossati. [Great! Oh, since I’m here, I would like something for my eyes, which, with these low temperatures, frequently become dry and red.]

Pharmacist: Dunque… Penso che questo collirio sia perfetto per lei: è ottimo in caso di occhi secchi, affaticati, arrossati, allergici… [Well… I think these eye drops are perfect for you: they’re excellent in case of dry, tired, red, allergic eyes…]

Costumer: La ringrazio! Buona giornata! [Thank you! Have a good day!]

Pastiglia [Tablet]: synonymous with “pill”; pharmaceutical preparation often shaped like a small disk.
Mal di gola [Sore throat]: throat pain or irritation.
Malanni di stagione: [Seasonal illnesses]: more or less serious disorders that affect the respiratory or intestinal system every year at the change of season. They’re generally caused by viruses and bacteria and are spread by hand contact or by air (for example, by coughing or sneezing).
Azione antisettica [Antiseptic action]: ability to prevent or slow the growth of microbes inside, outside or on the surface of an organism.
Naso chiuso [Stuffy nose]: obstruction of other airways (nose) due to a swelling of the nasal mucosa because of viruses or bacteria, also called “congestione nasale” (nasal congestion).
Epistassi [Epistaxis]: bleeding from the nose.
Collirio [Eye drops]: liquid medication used to treat inflammation and other minor eye deseases.

DIALOGUE #3

Costumer: Buonasera, sono inciampata in una buca e sono finita per terra… Guardi un po’ il mio ginocchio… Sto ancora sanguinando. Avrei bisogno di tutto il necessario per curare la ferita. [Good evening, I tripped over a hole and ended up on the ground…Look at my knee…I’m still bleeding. I would need whatever it takes to heal the wound.]

Pharmacist: Eh sì… Bisogna immediatamente trattare l’escoriazione per evitare che prenda infezione. Le serviranno un disinfettante, garze e cerotti. Ha con sé qualcosa per il dolore? [Oh yes…The excoriation needs to be treated immediately to prevent it from catching an infection. You’re going to need disinfectant, gauzes and band-aids. Do you have something with you for the pain?]

Costumer: In verità no. Dopo la caduta, ho applicato del ghiaccio che ho trovato in ufficio. [Actually, no. After my fall, I put on some ice that I found at the office.]

Pharmacist: Posso darle un antidolorifico. [I can give you a painkiller.]

Costumer: Perfetto, grazie. Senta un po’, nella caduta credo di essermi procurata anche dei lividi qui sul fianco. Cosa posso fare? [Perfect, thank you. Listen, by falling I think I got some bruises here on my hip, too. What can I do?]

Pharmacist: Nulla per il momento purtroppo: può solo applicare questa pomata apposita. Se il dolore dovesse persistere, dovrà effettuare una radiografia. [Unfortunately, nothing for the moment: you can just apply this specific ointment. If the pain persists, you’ll have to do an X-ray.]

Costumer: Speriamo di no! La ringrazio comunque! Ahia! La mia caviglia! Credo di aver preso anche una storta! [Hopefully not! Thank you anyway! Ouch! My ankle! I think I got a sprain, too!]

Pharmacist: Ah mi dispiace! Allora devo darle anche il necessario per curare la distorsione. [Oh I’m sorry! Then, I’ll also have to give you the necessary to treat the sprain.]

Costumer: Accidenti! E in cosa consiste? [Damn! And what does it consist of?]

Pharmacist: Dunque, non appena torna a casa, deve fare una bella fasciatura della caviglia con queste bende. Mi raccomando: stretta ma non troppo, non deve bloccare la circolazione sanguigna! Inoltre, una volta a casa deve rimanere a riposo per almeno una settimana. [Well, as soon as you get home, you have to do a good bandage of your ankle with these bandages. I recommend: tight but not too much, it shouldn’t stop the blood circulation! Moreover, once at home you need to rest for a week, at least.]

Ferita [Wound]: cut or laceration on the skin and flesh caused by a weapon, a sharp object or a blow.
Escoriazione [Excoriation]: superficial skin wound, graze.
Disinfettant [Disinfectant]: a chemical used to clean wounds as it kills dangerous microorganisms.
Garza [Gauze]: lightweight cotton wool used to bandage, cleanse or dress wounds.
Cerotto [Band-aid]: medication for external use, consisting of an adhesive strip and a very small gauze, which is applied to small wounds so that they don’t come into contact with dirty surfaces.
Antidolorifico [Painkiller]: medicine used to struggle pain.
Livido [Bruise]: bluish mark that forms on the skin after beatings, blows or falls.
Pomata [Ointment]: medicinal cream that is applied to the skin of the area to be treated.
Radiografia [X-ray]: tecnique that allows you to reproduce internal parts of the body photographically, in order to identify fractures or other “internal” pathologies.
Storta / Distorsione: [Sprain]: a “sprain” is a traumatic injury to a joint with strains or tears. In everyday Italian language, you rather use the word “storta” (have a strain).
Fasciatura [Bandage]: set of gauzes or bandages wrapped to cover a part of the body after being subjected to a blow.
Circolazione (sanguigna) [Blood circulation]: the flow of blood within the organism based on a circular way.

DIALOGUE #4

Costumer: Buongiorno! Quando mi sono svegliata stamattina ho notato questo strano rossore sulla guancia, che non vuole andare via. Come posso curarlo? Mi prude tantissimo! [Good morning! When I woke up this morning I noticed this weird redness on my cheek that just doesn’t want to go away. How can I treat it? It’s itching so much!]

Pharmacist: Mh vediamo… Potrebbe trattarsi di una reazione allergica o di un eritema solare. Lei è allergica a qualcosa in particolare? [Mh let’s see…It could be an allergic reaction or a sun rash. Are you allergic to anything in particular?]

Costumer: Che io sappia no. [Not as far as I know.]

Pharmacist: È rimasta esposta al sole per molto tempo? [Have you been exposed to the sun for a long time?]

Costumer: Ahia, forse sì! Ieri ho partecipato a una maratona in città. E non ho applicato la crema solare… [Ow, maybe! Yesterday I took part in a city marathon. And I didn’t put on sunscreen…]

Pharmacist: Allora è sicuramente un eritema solare. Prenda queste compresse per 4 giorni per calmare il prurito. [Then it’s a sun rash, for sure. Take these pills for 4 days to soothe the itching.]

Costumer: D’accordo. Parlando di prurito, mi gratto da tutto il giorno proprio qui, vicino al gomito. [Ok. Speaking of itching, I’ve been scratching all day right here, close to my elbow.]

Pharmacist: Mi faccia dare un’occhiata: oh sì! È un’eruzione cutanea, anche piuttosto forte direi: le si sono formate delle bolle. Sente dolore? [Let me give it a look: oh yes! It’s a rash, even quite strong I’d say: you have some bubbles. Do you feel any pain?]

Costumer: No, solo prurito. [No, just itching.]

Pharmacist: Dunque per curare questa eruzione deve spalmare questa pomata al cortisone sull’area interessata, due volte al giorno per una settimana. [Well, to treat this rash you need to spread this cortison cream on the affected area, twice a day for a week.]

Costumer: Ahi ahi ahi! D’accordo! Inoltre, le scarpe da ginnastica mi hanno provocato delle vesciche al piede… Oggi faccio anche fatica a camminare! [Ow ow ow! Ok! Also, I got some blisters on my foot from my sneakers…Today I’m struggling to walk, too!]

Pharmacist: Per quelle posso darle dei cerotti specifici per il trattamento delle vesciche, però cerchi di rimanere il più possibile a riposo. [For those, I can give you specific band-aids for blisters treatment, try to rest as much as possible, though.]

Costumer: Oh sì, guardi. Giuro che d’ora in poi le uniche maratone che farò saranno quelle su Netflix! [Oh yes, look. I swear, from now on the only marathons I’ll do will be the ones on Netflix!]

Rossore: [Redness]: redness of the skin following an effort, blow, inflammation or a strong emotion.
Reazione allergica [Allergic reaction]: disorder caused by an allergy.
Eritema solare [Sun rash]: inflammatory manifestation of the skin, which can develop after excessive and prolonged exposure to the sun.
Compressa [Pill]: small tablet because it is obtained after a strong pressure.
Prurito [Itch]: annoying itching sensation on the skin that leads you to schratching.
Eruzione cutanea [Rash]: a condition where the skin suddenly changes in colour and texture, becoming red and swollen and may be covered with pustules or blisters.
Vescica [Blister]: fluid-filled skin lesion due to a burn or prolonged friction. For example, blisters form when we wear new, tight and hard shoes.

DIALOGUE #5

Costumer: Buongiorno, ha qualcosa per meteorismo e flatulenza? [Good morning, do you have anything for meteorism and flatulence?]

Pharmacist: Avverte anche una sensazione di gonfiore addominale? [Do you also have a feeling of abdominal swelling?]

Costumer: Oh sì! Sa… Soffro spesso di stipsi… [Oh yes!…I often soffer from constipation…]

Pharmacist: Dunque… Le do questo integratore alimentare con probiotici che va assunto durante i pasti per contrastare lo sviluppo di gas dovuti alla fermentazione. In più, le consiglio anche di prendere queste pasticche al carbone vegetale. Può prenderne una al giorno, dopo colazione o dopo cena. [Well…I’ll give you this nutritional supplement with probiotics that should be taken during meals to hinder the growth of gases due to fermentation. In addition, I also recommend these vegetable carbon pills. You can take one a day, after breakfast or after dinner.]

Costumer: Perfetto! Grazie mille! Ma sa… Tutto questo mi causa anche spesso acidità e bruciori di stomaco… [Perfect! Thank you! But, you know…All this also often causes me acid reflux and stomach burning…]

Pharmacist: Guardi, le potrei dare dei medicinali, però vediamo intanto come va con quelli che le ho già dato. Secondo me la situazione migliorerà. Se non dovesse succedere, ritorni e le darò anche dei medicinali specifici per quei disturbi. Comunque si aiuti anche con rimedi naturali come liquirizia, finocchio, menta, carota. [Look, I could give you some medications, but meanwhile let’s see how it goes with the ones I’ve already given you. I think your situation will improve. If it doesn’t, come back and I’ll also give you some specific medicines for those disorders. However you can also help yorself with natural remedies like licorice, fennel, mint, carrot.]

Costumer: La ringrazio: è stata gentilissima! [Thank you: you were very kind!]

Meteorismo [Meteorism]: tension in the abdomen caused by an excessive gas in the stomach and intestine.
Flatulenza [Flatulence]: emission of malodorous intestinal gases.
Gonfiore addominale [Abdominal swelling]: similar to meteorism, but is generally less serious and less lasting.
Stipsi [Constipation]: difficulty in feces expelling with a regular frequency.
Integratore alimentare [Nutritional supplement]: product aimed to integrate additional nutrients to the regular diet.
Acidità e bruciore di stomaco [Acid reflux and stomach burning]: unpleasant burning sensation between the stomach and neck, due to difficulty in digestion, which increases the production of acids by the stomach.

After learning all these Italian words and expressions useful at the pharmacy, why don’t you also give a look at the dialogue at the dentist?

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