Lesson 68 · German A1-2

At the Pharmacy

In der Apotheke

German pharmacies (Apotheken) are distinct from drugstores (Drogerien) - Apotheken sell medication and are staffed by pharmacists who can advise on symptoms directly, often without needing a doctor's visit first. This reuses symptom vocabulary from Lesson 14.

Today's win: describe a symptom to a pharmacist and ask for a recommendation, without necessarily needing a doctor.

Apotheke vs. Drogerie

die Apothekepharmacy - medication, marked with a red "A" sign
die Drogerie (e.g. dm, Rossmann)drugstore - toiletries, cosmetics, no prescription medication

Describing a symptom

Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. (reusing Lesson 14)
Haben Sie etwas gegen Kopfschmerzen? (Do you have something for headaches? - literally "against")
Können Sie mir etwas empfehlen? (Can you recommend something? - können, Lesson 11)

Prescription vocabulary

das Rezeptprescriptiondas Medikamentmedication
rezeptpflichtigprescription-requiredrezeptfreiover-the-counter
Hier ist mein Rezept. (Here is my prescription.)
Ist das rezeptfrei? (Is that available over the counter?)
Try it out loud: describe a symptom to an imaginary pharmacist and ask them to recommend something for it.

Quick recall check

1. What's the difference between Apotheke and Drogerie?

Show answer
medication vs. toiletries

2. "Can you recommend something?" - ______ Sie mir etwas empfehlen?

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Können

3. What does "rezeptfrei" mean?

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over-the-counter

4. What's the article for "Rezept" (prescription)?

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das

5. "Do you have something for headaches?" - Haben Sie etwas ______ Kopfschmerzen?

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gegen

Primary source

Vocabulary cross-checked against the "Gesundheit" topic in the official Goethe-Zertifikat A1 Wortliste.

Have a specific symptom you want the right pharmacy phrasing for? Ask your teaching agent.