Knowing how to navigate a pharmacy is essential when traveling or living abroad. In this lesson, you'll learn to ask for medicine, describe your symptoms to a pharmacist, and understand basic instructions for taking medication. You'll also learn to express obligation with 'tener que' and give advice with 'deber.'
Learning tips
- In Colombia, many medications that require a prescription in other countries can be bought over the counter. But always ask!
- 'Tener que' expresses strong obligation (I have to), while 'deber' is softer advice (I should).
- Learn 'dolor de cabeza' as one unit — it's the most common pain complaint.
- Pharmacists in Colombia are often the first point of medical advice for minor ailments.
Warm-up & Active Recall
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sentirse | to feel |
| enfermo | sick |
| sano | healthy |
| cansado | tired |
| mareado | dizzy |
| la fiebre | the fever |
| la gripe | the flu |
| el dolor | the pain |
| fuerte | strong |
| débil | weak |
Dialog
Valentina visits a pharmacy in Bogotá with a headache. Notice how she describes her symptoms to the pharmacist (Andrés, playing the role). She asks about prescriptions ('receta'), mentions different medicine types (pastilla, jarabe, crema), and the pharmacist gives dosage instructions. The phrase '¡Que se mejore!' (Get well soon!) is how pharmacists and others commonly wish you recovery.
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| la farmacia | /faɾ.ˈma.sja/ | the pharmacy | In Colombia, pharmacies (droguerías) are on nearly every block |
| la pastilla | /pas.ˈti.ʝa/ | the pill, tablet | The most common form of medicine |
| el medicamento | /me.ði.ka.ˈmen.to/ | the medicine, medication | More formal than 'medicina' |
| la receta | /re.ˈse.ta/ | the prescription | Also means 'recipe' for cooking |
| tomar | /to.ˈmaɾ/ | to take (medicine) | 'Tomar una pastilla' = take a pill |
| dolor de cabeza | /do.ˈloɾ de ka.ˈβe.sa/ | headache | Literally 'pain of head' |
| el jarabe | /xa.ˈɾa.βe/ | the syrup | Liquid medicine, often for coughs |
| la crema | /ˈkɾe.ma/ | the cream | Topical medicine for skin or muscles |
| mejor | /me.ˈxoɾ/ | better | Comparative of 'bueno' — irregular form |
| peor | /pe.ˈoɾ/ | worse | Comparative of 'malo' — irregular form |
Passive words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| el antibiótico | /an.ti.βi.ˈo.ti.ko/ | the antibiotic | Usually requires a prescription |
| la vitamina | /bi.ta.ˈmi.na/ | the vitamin | |
| la dosis | /ˈdo.sis/ | the dose | |
| la cápsula | /ˈkap.su.la/ | the capsule | |
| el gotero | /ɡo.ˈte.ɾo/ | the dropper | |
| la inyección | /in.ʝek.ˈsjon/ | the injection, shot |
Useful chunks
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| dolor de cabeza | headache |
| ¡que se mejore! | get well soon! |
Grammar: 'Tener que' + infinitive for obligation and 'deber' + infinitive for advice
| Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tener que + infinitive | Tengo que tomar la pastilla. | I have to take the pill. |
| tener que + infinitive | Tienes que descansar. | You have to rest. |
| deber + infinitive | Debes tomar agua. | You should drink water. |
| deber + infinitive | Debe ir al médico. | He/she should go to the doctor. |
| no + deber + infinitive | No debes salir hoy. | You shouldn't go out today. |
In this lesson, you learn two structures for expressing obligation and giving advice:
Tener que + infinitive (to have to — strong obligation):
- Tengo que tomar la pastilla. (I have to take the pill.)
- Tienes que descansar. (You have to rest.)
- Tiene que ir al médico. (He/she has to go to the doctor.)
Deber + infinitive (should — advice/recommendation):
- Debes tomar agua. (You should drink water.)
- Debe ir al médico. (He/she should go to the doctor.)
- No debes salir hoy. (You shouldn't go out today.)
'Tener que' is stronger — it implies necessity. 'Deber' is gentler — it's a recommendation. In a pharmacy or doctor's context, you'll hear both frequently.
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the missing word.
- Voy a la a comprar medicina. (pharmacy)(the place where you buy medicine)
- Necesito una para el dolor. (pill)(a small round medicine you swallow)
- ¿Necesito una para este medicamento? (prescription)(a doctor's written order for medicine)
- Me siento hoy que ayer. (worse)(comparative: more bad)
- Quiero un para la tos. (syrup)(liquid medicine)
Grammar Application
Form sentences using 'tener que' or 'deber' with the given elements.
- yo / tener que / tomar la pastilla → (tengo que + infinitive)
- tú / deber / descansar → (debes + infinitive)
- él / tener que / ir al médico → (tiene que + infinitive)
- nosotros / deber / tomar agua → (debemos + infinitive)
- usted / no deber / salir hoy → (no debe + infinitive)
Translation (English → Spanish)
Translate each sentence into Spanish.
- I need a pill for my headache.
- I have to take the medicine.
- Do I need a prescription?
- I feel better with the cream.
- You should take the syrup.
Creative Construction
Write a short pharmacy conversation. Include at least one medicine type, one symptom, and one obligation/advice expression.
Takeaway
Use 'tener que + infinitive' for strong obligation (tengo que tomar la pastilla) and 'deber + infinitive' for advice (debes descansar). At the pharmacy, key words are 'pastilla' (pill), 'jarabe' (syrup), 'crema' (cream), and 'receta' (prescription).