Pharmacy & Health

1. Har ni medicin mot huvudvärk?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a Swedish pharmacy (apotek)

   Grammar Note

   "Mot + symptom" = "for/against". Swedish pharmacies (Apotek) were historically state-run

2. Jag behöver medicin mot magont

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   Medicines are named with "medicin mot ~" (medicine against ~), as in "medicin mot huvudvärk". In "magsår-medicin", "magsår" means a stomach ulcer, so it does not ask for ordinary stomach medicine

3. Jag behöver diarrémedel

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Diarré" from French. "Diarrémedel" = "diarré" + "medel" (remedy) = antidiarrheal

4. Jag har feber

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Feber" from Latin. "Hög feber" = high fever, "lätt feber" = slight fever

5. Jag har en allergi

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Jag är allergisk mot..." = "I am allergic to..."

6. Jag behöver plåster

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Plåster" is the Swedish word for plasters/bandages. "Band-Aid" is also recognized

7. Jag behöver myggmedel

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Mygg" (mosquito) + "medel" (remedy) = mosquito repellent. Sweden has many mosquitoes in summer

8. Jag behöver solkräm

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Sol" (sun) + "kräm" (cream) = solkräm. SPF = "solskyddsfaktor"

9. Hur ska jag ta det här läkemedlet?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Ta ett läkemedel" = take medicine. "Läkemedel" = "läke" (healing) + "medel" (means)

10. Behöver jag recept?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Receptbelagt" (prescription required) vs "receptfritt" (OTC) are key Swedish pharmacy terms

11. recept

    Prescription

    Usage

    Show this at a pharmacy counter when a prescription is in question; in that setting it cannot be mistaken for a cooking recipe

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "receptet" (plural unchanged). The same word also means a cooking recipe, so outside a pharmacy say "receptbelagt läkemedel" to be unambiguous

12. apotek

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Show this when asking where a pharmacy is; look for the green cross sign

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "apoteket" (plural unchanged); it appears in chain names such as "Apotek Hjärtat". A pharmacist is "apotekare"

13. febernedsättande medicin

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Ask for something to bring a fever down; the common over-the-counter option is paracetamol (Alvedon, Panodil)

    Grammar Note

    "Medicin" is an "en" word (definite "medicinen"); "febernedsättande" is an invariable participle adjective. The same product is also sold as "smärtstillande" (painkiller)

14. febertermometer

    Thermometer (medical)

    Usage

    Use when buying a medical thermometer; plain "termometer" could mean a weather thermometer, so keep the "feber-" prefix

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word, definite "febertermometern"; a compound of "feber" (fever) and "termometer"

15. bandage

    Bandage

    Usage

    Use when buying a bandage; a small sticking plaster is "plåster" and a gauze pad "kompress"

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "bandaget". "Förband" also means bandage but additionally means a military unit, so "bandage" is the safer word

16. desinfektionsmedel

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    Ask for wound disinfectant; alcohol hand sanitiser is "handsprit"

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "desinfektionsmedlet" (plural unchanged)

17. munskydd

    Face mask

    Usage

    Use when buying a surgical face mask; the Swedish word "mask" means a worm or a carnival mask, so do not use it here

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "munskyddet" (plural unchanged); a compound of "mun" (mouth) and "skydd" (protection)

18. mensskydd

    Sanitary products

    Usage

    The umbrella term for finding the aisle; a pad is "binda", a tampon "tampong", and a cup "menskopp"

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "mensskyddet" (plural unchanged); the triple "s" spelling is correct ("mens" + "skydd")

19. kondom

    Condom

    Usage

    Sold at pharmacies, supermarkets, and convenience shops; pointing avoids having to say it aloud

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word, definite "kondomen", plural "kondomer"

20. ögondroppar

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Use when buying eye drops; for hay fever ask specifically for "allergidroppar"

    Grammar Note

    Normally used in the plural; the singular is "en ögondroppe" and the definite plural "ögondropparna"

21. smärtstillande plåster

    Pain-relief patch

    Usage

    Ask for a stick-on patch for shoulder or back pain; the Japanese-style cooling compress is uncommon in Sweden, and staff usually suggest a rub-on gel such as Voltaren instead

    Grammar Note

    "Plåster" is a neuter "ett" word (definite "plåstret", plural unchanged); on its own it means a sticking plaster

22. Ett laxermedel, tack

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Use it at a pharmacy to ask for something for constipation

    Grammar Note

    "Laxermedel" is an "ett" word (definite: laxermedlet). "[noun], tack" is the standard way to ask for something

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