Skip to main content
HalloKit
Back to pharmacy scenario

Pharmacy prep

German phrases for the pharmacy

A practical sheet for the Apotheke counter: naming symptoms, giving timing, and asking about dosage without a long medical story.

Content verified July 2026

By HalloKit Editorial Team · Published · Updated

Interactive practice

Rehearse this conversation with choices, feedback, and grammar notes — not just the phrase sheet.

Preview scenario

Bring

  • Description of your main symptom
  • Timing: since when it started
  • Health card, e-prescription details, or paper prescription when collecting prescribed medicine
  • A list of current medicines and known allergies if relevant

Expect

  • Was fehlt Ihnen?
  • Seit wann haben Sie das?
  • Haben Sie Fieber?
  • Möchten Sie Tabletten, Tropfen oder ein Spray?
  • Nehmen Sie schon andere Medikamente?
Useful phrases

Name the symptom and ask the next practical question

Pharmacy staff usually need the symptom, how long it has lasted, and whether you want tablets, drops, or spray.

Conversation map

Follow the real sequence, then play each line before saying it yourself.

  1. 01

    Ask for help

    Haben Sie etwas gegen Halsschmerzen?

  2. 02

    Describe symptoms

    Seit gestern Abend. Fieber habe ich nicht.

  3. 03

    Share safety details

    Ich nehme bereits dieses Medikament.

  4. 04

    Confirm use

    Wie oft soll ich die Tabletten einnehmen?

Ask for help

  • Haben Sie etwas gegen Halsschmerzen?

    Do you have something for a sore throat?

  • Ich möchte ein E-Rezept einlösen.

    I would like to redeem an electronic prescription.

  • Hier ist meine Gesundheitskarte.

    Here is my health insurance card.

Describe symptoms

  • Seit gestern Abend. Fieber habe ich nicht.

    Since yesterday evening. I do not have a fever.

  • Ich habe Husten und meine Nase ist verstopft.

    I have a cough and my nose is blocked.

  • Die Beschwerden werden stärker.

    The symptoms are getting worse.

Share safety details

  • Ich nehme bereits dieses Medikament.

    I already take this medicine.

  • Ich bin gegen Penicillin allergisch.

    I am allergic to penicillin.

  • Verträgt sich das mit meinen anderen Medikamenten?

    Is this compatible with my other medicines?

Confirm use

  • Wie oft soll ich die Tabletten einnehmen?

    How often should I take the tablets?

  • Soll ich das vor oder nach dem Essen einnehmen?

    Should I take this before or after eating?

  • Welche Nebenwirkungen sollte ich beachten?

    Which side effects should I be aware of?

  • Vielen Dank für die Beratung.

    Thank you for the advice.

Rescue phrases
  • Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
  • Was bedeutet einnehmen?
  • Ich verstehe die Dosierung nicht.
Preview scenario
Complete dialogue

Hear the full conversation before you rehearse it

Read both sides once, then cover the English and say your lines aloud. The real appointment may use different wording, but the sequence is predictable.

  1. 01

    Pharmacist

    Guten Tag. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?

    Good day. How can I help you?

  2. 02

    You

    Guten Tag. Haben Sie etwas gegen Halsschmerzen?

    Good day. Do you have something for a sore throat?

  3. 03

    Pharmacist

    Seit wann haben Sie die Beschwerden?

    How long have you had the symptoms?

  4. 04

    You

    Seit gestern Abend. Fieber habe ich nicht.

    Since yesterday evening. I do not have a fever.

  5. 05

    Pharmacist

    Nehmen Sie schon andere Medikamente?

    Are you already taking any other medicines?

  6. 06

    You

    Ja, ich nehme dieses Medikament. Verträgt sich das damit?

    Yes, I take this medicine. Is it compatible with that?

  7. 07

    Pharmacist

    Ich prüfe das. Haben Sie bekannte Allergien?

    I will check that. Do you have any known allergies?

  8. 08

    You

    Nein, mir sind keine Allergien bekannt.

    No, I am not aware of any allergies.

  9. 09

    Pharmacist

    Ich erkläre Ihnen jetzt die Anwendung.

    I will now explain how to use it.

  10. 10

    You

    Danke. Können Sie die Dosierung bitte aufschreiben?

    Thank you. Could you please write down the dosage?

Useful vocabulary

Words you are likely to hear

Learn the noun with its article and notice the short grammar pattern attached to it.

die Apotheke
pharmacy
A pharmacy provides prescription medicines, pharmacy-only products, and professional advice.
das Rezept / das E-Rezept
prescription / electronic prescription
Many prescription medicines are issued electronically and can be retrieved at the pharmacy.
rezeptpflichtig
prescription-only
A prescription-only medicine requires a prescription from a doctor.
rezeptfrei
available without a prescription
Some medicines can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription.
die Dosierung
dosage
Ask how much, how often, and for how long the medicine should be used.
die Nebenwirkung
side effect
Use Welche Nebenwirkungen sollte ich beachten? to ask what to watch for.
die Wechselwirkung
drug interaction
Mention other medicines so the pharmacist can check possible interactions.
einnehmen
to take medicine
A common verb in dosage instructions: zweimal täglich einnehmen.
Common mistakes

Small fixes that make the conversation clearer

  • Naming only the symptom

    Also say when it started and whether it is changing. This gives the pharmacist clearer context for the conversation.

  • Forgetting other medicines

    Mention relevant medicines and allergies before asking whether a product is suitable, especially when you use several medicines.

  • Leaving unsure about the instructions

    Ask about frequency, timing with food, and anything you did not understand. You can also ask for the dosage to be written down.

Common questions

FAQ

Short answers for the questions people ask before this appointment.

How do I ask for over-the-counter help in German at the pharmacy?+

Start with Haben Sie etwas gegen [symptom]? such as Halsschmerzen or Kopfschmerzen.

How do I explain when symptoms started?+

Use seit: Seit gestern Abend. Fieber habe ich nicht.

How do I ask about dosage in German?+

Ask Wie oft soll ich die Tabletten einnehmen? before you leave the counter.

What if I do not understand the pharmacist?+

Use Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?, Was bedeutet einnehmen?, or Ich verstehe die Dosierung nicht.

Take it with you

Print or save the offline pocket card with the key lines for appointment day.

Open pocket card
Keep preparing

Related German practice

Move between the phrase guide, appointment checklist, and the conversations that usually come next.

Related phrase guide

German phrases for a doctor appointment

Describe symptoms clearly, answer intake questions, and ask for a sick note in German.

Continue preparing

Related phrase guide

German phrases for health insurance registration

Register for public health insurance with the documents and phrases clerks expect.

Continue preparing

Related phrase guide

German phrases for the supermarket

Find products in the aisles and handle checkout small talk in German.

Continue preparing

Was this accurate?

Help us keep phrases aligned with real appointments in Germany.

Was this accurate?

Sources and references

Authoritative references used to verify the preparation details in this guide. Local requirements can still differ.