A Visit to the Pharmacy: Essential English Phrases & Vocabulary

Visiting a pharmacy can be confusing when English is not your first language.

Do you know how to ask for medicine, describe your symptoms, or understand dosage instructions in English?

In this post, we share a practical dialogue, “A Visit to the Pharmacy,” plus a vocabulary list and exercises to help you learn useful phrases. Perfect for ESL learners who want to feel more confident in real-life situations.

A Visit to the Pharmacy - Dialogue

📚Section 1: Dialogue – A Visit to the Pharmacy

Characters:

👩‍🦰Sarah: A young woman with a cold.

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: A friendly pharmacist ready to help.

[Scene: Sarah enters the pharmacy.]

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: Good afternoon! How can I help you today?

👩‍🦰Sarah: Hi, I’m not feeling well. I have a cold and a fever. Do you have something for that?

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: Yes, we have several options. Do you have a sore throat, cough, or congestion?

👩‍🦰Sarah: Mostly congestion and a runny nose. I’m also tired.

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: I recommend this cold and flu medicine. It’s available over the counter, so you don’t need a prescription.

👩‍🦰Sarah: How often should I take it?

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: Two tablets every 4–6 hours, but no more than eight in 24 hours.

👩‍🦰Sarah: Is it safe with my allergy medicine?

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: Yes, but take them a couple of hours apart.

👩‍🦰Sarah: How much does it cost?

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: It’s $12.50. Do you want to pay by cash or card?

👩‍🦰Sarah: Card, please. Do you accept health insurance?

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: Yes. With your insurance, you only pay $5.

👩‍🦰Sarah: Perfect, thank you so much!

👩🏻‍⚕️Pharmacist: You’re welcome! Feel better soon.

This dialogue not only provides practice for using common phrases at the pharmacy but also helps ESL students get familiar with how a typical interaction might go in an English-speaking environment.

📖Section 2: Pharmacy Vocabulary & Essential Phrases

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Pharmacy/Chemist’s	A place where medicine is prepared or sold.	I went to the pharmacy for cold medicine.
Prescription	A doctor’s written order for medicine.	The pharmacist filled my prescription.
Over-the-counter (OTC)	Medicine that can be bought without a prescription.	This painkiller is available over-the-counter.
Dosage	The amount and frequency of medicine to take.	Check the dosage on the label.
Side effects	Unintended effects of a drug.	Drowsiness is a side effect of this medicine.
Congestion	Blockage in the nose or chest.	She took medicine for her nasal congestion.
Medication	A drug or treatment.	I’m taking medication for my allergies.
Fever	A higher-than-normal body temperature.	He has a fever and needs to rest.
Allergies	A reaction to certain substances like pollen or food.	She always carries allergy tablets.
Health insurance	A plan that covers medical expenses.	Does this medication come under my health insurance?

Section 3: Exercises to Practice

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Sarah had a bad cold, so she went to the ________.

2. You can buy some painkillers ________ without a prescription.

3. Always check the ________ before taking medicine.

4. Drowsiness is a common ________ of this drug.

5. John has ________, so he needs special tablets in spring.

Answers:

1. pharmacy

2. over-the-counter

3. dosage

4. side effect

5. allergies

🗣️Exercise 2: Role Play

Practise the dialogue with a friend. Take turns being Sarah and the pharmacist. Add new lines, such as asking about side effects or alternative medicines.

Exercise 3: True or False

1. Over-the-counter medicine requires a doctor’s prescription.

2. Dosage means the amount of medicine you should take.

3. Health insurance can help reduce medicine costs.

🔑Answers:

1. False

2. True

3. True

🎯Section 4: Real-Life Tips for Visiting a Pharmacy

• Write down your symptoms in English before going.

• Learn phrases like “I need something for…” or “Can you recommend…?”

• Always ask about dosage and side effects.

• Keep a small list of your medications in English (especially if you have allergies).

Now you have the essential phrases, vocabulary, and a sample dialogue to help you feel confident when visiting a pharmacy in an English-speaking country.

The more you practise real-life situations like this, the more natural your English will become.

📥Download the Free PDF:

👉Get your printable“Pharmacy Vocabulary & Dialogue” guide

🗣️Practice with a Friend: Use the dialogue above to practice speaking.

⬇️Comment Below:

Have you ever visited a pharmacy abroad? What phrases were most helpful?

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These exercises should help reinforce the vocabulary and make it easier for learners to remember the terms.