Pharmacies (صيدلية) are everywhere in the Arab world and are often the first place people go for minor health problems. Many medicines that require a prescription in other countries are available over the counter, and pharmacists are used to giving basic advice.
Pharmacy vocabulary
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| صيدلية | ṣaydaliyya | pharmacy |
| صيدلي | ṣaydilee | pharmacist |
| دواء | dawaa’ | medicine |
| وصفة | waṣfa | prescription |
| حبوب | ḥubool | pills |
| شراب | sharaab | syrup |
| مرهم | marham | ointment |
| مسكن | musakkin | painkiller |
| مضاد حيوي | muḍaad ḥayawiyy | antibiotic |
| فيتامينات | feetaameenaat | vitamins |
Symptoms
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ألم | alam | pain |
| صداع | ṣudaa3 | headache |
| حرارة | ḥaraara | fever |
| سعال | su3aal | cough |
| زكام | zukaam | a cold |
| حساسية | ḥasaasiyya | allergy |
| مغص | maḡaṣ | stomach ache |
Asking for medicine
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أريد دواء للصداع | ureed dawaa’ liṣ-ṣudaa3 | I want medicine for a headache |
| عندي وصفة من الطبيب | 3indee waṣfa min aṭ-ṭabeeb | I have a prescription from the doctor |
| هل هذا بدون وصفة؟ | hal haadha bidoon waṣfa? | is this without a prescription? |
| عندي حساسية من البنسلين | 3indee ḥasaasiyya min al-binsileen | I am allergic to penicillin |
| كم مرة آخذه؟ | kam marra aakhudhuh? | how many times do I take it? |
| مرتين في اليوم بعد الأكل | marratayn fee al-yawm ba3da al-akl | twice a day after eating |
Dialogue: At the pharmacy
Buying medicine
- Amarhaba, kayfa usaa3iduk?Hello, how can I help you?
- B3indee ṣudaa3 qawiyyI have a strong headache
- Ahal 3indak ḥaraara?Do you have a fever?
- Blaa, faqaṭ ṣudaa3No, just a headache
- Aanṣaḥuk bihaadha al-musakkinI recommend this painkiller
- Bkam marra aakhudhuh?How many times do I take it?
- Aḥabbataan marratayn fee al-yawm ba3da al-aklTwo pills twice a day after eating
- Bshukran jazeelanThank you very much
Practice
How do you say 'medicine' in Arabic?
hint: It starts with د
What does 'وصفة' mean?
hint: You get it from the doctor
How do you say 'I have a headache' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'عندي' for 'I have'
Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)
0 / 8Arabic
English
← Select an Arabic word, then tap its meaning →
Need to describe symptoms to a doctor? Try the doctor lesson.
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