Italian at the pharmacy: how to ask for medicine and describe your symptoms
In Italy the pharmacist genuinely advises you, and a lot of medicines are kept behind the counter, so you need to describe your symptom out loud. One formula covers most of it: 'ho mal di' plus the body part. These 25 phrases cover everything from a simple request to a doctor's prescription.
What they'll ask you
Everyone rehearses what they'll say and freezes when the clerk asks a question. These are the real questions, with audio.
Mi dica.
Go ahead.
How the pharmacist invites you to speak.
È una tosse secca o grassa?
Is it a dry cough or a wet one?
The pharmacist's standard question.
The phrases you'll use
Buongiorno, avrei bisogno di una medicina.
Good morning, I'd need some medicine.
A polite, natural opener.
Ho mal di testa.
I have a headache.
The formula: ho mal di + body part.
Ho mal di gola.
I have a sore throat.
Very common in winter.
Ho mal di stomaco.
I have a stomachache.
Also works for indigestion.
Ho mal di denti.
I have a toothache.
They'll suggest you see a dentist.
Ho la febbre.
I have a fever.
Give the number in degrees if you know it.
Ho la tosse.
I have a cough.
They'll ask if it's dry or with phlegm.
Ho il raffreddore.
I have a cold.
Stuffy nose, sneezing.
Ho la nausea.
I feel nauseous.
Nausea, queasiness.
Ho un'allergia.
I have an allergy.
Name it if you know what to.
13 more phrases in this situation
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Create a free accountThe mistake English speakers often make here
What they usually say
Sono caldo.
The right way
Ho caldo. / Ho la febbre.
English uses 'to be' for physical states — I am hot, I am hungry, I am cold — so reaching for 'essere' feels natural. Italian uses 'avere' instead: ho caldo, ho fame, ho freddo, ho sonno. 'Sono caldo' doesn't mean 'I feel hot' — it reads as a comment on your own attractiveness, which makes for an awkward moment at the counter.
If you get stuck
Three phrases that get you through any interaction. Memorize these before all the others.
Può ripetere più lentamente, per favore?
Could you repeat that more slowly, please?
Scusi, non ho capito. Può scrivermelo?
Sorry, I didn't understand. Could you write it down?
Parlo poco italiano.
I speak a little Italian.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a prescription to buy medicine in Italy?
- Depends. Common painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen are sold over the counter. Antibiotics and most ongoing medications require a ricetta from a doctor. Ask 'Serve la ricetta per questo?' (Do I need a prescription for this?).
- What is the farmacia di turno?
- The on-duty pharmacy. Since Italian pharmacies close at night, on Sundays, and over lunch in smaller towns, there's always one on duty in the area. The list is posted on every pharmacy's door.
- How do generics work in Italy?
- They're called equivalente or generico and have the same active ingredient for a lower price. The pharmacist is required to tell you when an equivalent version exists — but won't always mention it unless you ask.
- Can the Italian pharmacist actually advise me?
- Yes, and they usually do so in real depth. For simple symptoms, the pharmacist is the first point of contact for healthcare in Italy, ahead of the doctor.
- How do I say my fever in degrees?
- Italy uses Celsius, same as Brazil. Just say 'Ho trentotto di febbre' for a 38° fever — the number alone is understood as the temperature.
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