Pharmacy & Health

1. Heeft u iets tegen hoofdpijn?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a Dutch pharmacy (apotheek)

   Grammar Note

   "Tegen + symptom" = "for/against". Dutch "apotheek" handles prescriptions; "drogist" sells OTC products

2. Ik heb maagmiddel nodig

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "...nodig hebben" = to need. "Maag" (stomach) + "middel" (remedy) = stomach medicine

3. Ik heb een middel tegen diarree nodig

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Diarree" is from French, used as the medical term for diarrhea in Dutch

4. Ik heb koorts

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Koorts hebben" = have a fever, the standard Dutch expression

5. Ik heb een allergie

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Ik ben allergisch voor..." = "I am allergic to..."

6. Ik heb pleisters nodig

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Pleisters" is the plural of "pleister". Indonesian "plester" borrowed from Dutch

7. Ik heb insectenspray nodig

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Insecten" (insects) + "spray" = insect repellent spray. "Een muggenwerend middel" = mosquito repellent

8. Ik heb zonnebrandcrème nodig

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Zonne" (sun) + "brand" (burn) + "crème" = sunburn cream/sunscreen. SPF = "zonbeschermingsfactor"

9. Hoe neem ik dit medicijn in?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Innemen" = take medicine, a separable verb. In questions, "in" moves to the end of the sentence

10. Heb ik een recept nodig?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Op recept" (on prescription) vs "zonder recept" (without prescription/OTC) are key pharmacy terms

11. de apotheek

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Point to this to ask where a pharmacy is; only an "apotheek" dispenses prescription medicine

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; a "drogisterij" sells only over-the-counter products and is a different kind of shop

12. het recept

    Prescription

    Usage

    Point to this at a pharmacy or clinic; in a kitchen or food conversation "recept" means a cooking recipe instead, so use it at the pharmacy counter

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word; prescription-only medicine is "op recept", over-the-counter is "zonder recept"

13. de thermometer

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a thermometer at a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; to distinguish it from a weather thermometer, say "de koortsthermometer"

14. het verband

    Bandage

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a bandage; "verband" also means "connection" in everyday Dutch, so show it at a pharmacy or alongside the wound

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word; a roll of bandage is "de zwachtel" and a sticking plaster is "de pleister"

15. het ontsmettingsmiddel

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    Point to this to buy wound disinfectant at a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word; Dutch labels also say "het desinfectiemiddel", and Belgian ones often say "ontsmettingsalcohol"

16. het mondmasker

    Face mask

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a mask; everyday Dutch says "het mondkapje" while Belgium uses "het mondmasker", which is understood in both countries

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word; "masker" alone means a face mask as in a disguise, so keep "mond" (mouth) in front

17. het maandverband

    Sanitary pad

    Usage

    Point to this to find sanitary products at a pharmacy or supermarket; tampons are "de tampon"

    Grammar Note

    A "het" compound of "maand" (month) and "verband"; in this form it is never confused with a bandage

18. het condoom

    Condom

    Usage

    Point to this at a pharmacy, drugstore, or supermarket

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word; plural "de condooms"

19. de oogdruppels

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Point to this to buy eye drops at a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word always used in the plural; nose drops are "de neusdruppels"

20. de koortsremmer

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for something to bring a fever down; what you get is usually paracetamol

    Grammar Note

    A "de" compound of "koorts" (fever) and "remmer" (inhibitor); a painkiller is "de pijnstiller"

21. Ik heb een laxeermiddel nodig

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Use at a pharmacy when constipated. laxeermiddel is medicine for obstipatie, constipation, that promotes bowel movements.

    Grammar Note

    "Een ... nodig hebben" means "to need ...", the same pattern as «Ik heb maagmiddel nodig» and others. "Laxeermiddel" is a "het" word

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