Pharmacy & Health

1. Baş ağrısı ilacınız var mı?

   Baş ağ-rı-sı i-la-cı-nız var mı?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a Turkish pharmacy (eczane)

   Grammar Note

   "Var mı?" = "Is there? / Do you have?" Turkish has rich suffix-based grammar including possessive suffixes

2. Mide ilacına ihtiyacım var

   Mi-de i-la-cı-na ih-ti-ya-cım var

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "İhtiyacım var" = "I have a need for". The dative suffix "-a/-e" indicates the object of need

3. İshal ilacına ihtiyacım var

   İs-hal i-la-cı-na ih-ti-ya-cım var

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "İshal" is an Arabic loanword meaning diarrhea

4. Ateşim var

   A-te-şim var

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Ateşim var" = "my fever exists" — Turkish expresses "I have" through possessive suffixes + "var"

5. Alerjim var

   A-ler-jim var

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Alerji" is from French. "...ye alerjim var" = "I am allergic to..."

6. Yara bandına ihtiyacım var

   Ya-ra ban-dı-na ih-ti-ya-cım var

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Yara" (wound) + "bant" (tape/band, loanword) + possessive "-ı" = "yara bandı" (adhesive plaster). In a noun compound the second element takes the possessive suffix, and t softens to d

7. Böcek kovucuya ihtiyacım var

   Bö-cek ko-vu-cu-ya ih-ti-ya-cım var

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Böcek" (insect) + "kovucu" (repeller/chaser) = insect repellent

8. Güneş kremine ihtiyacım var

   Gü-neş kre-mi-ne ih-ti-ya-cım var

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Güneş" (sun) + "kremi" (cream) = sunscreen. "Güneş koruyucu kremi" (sun protective cream) is also used

9. Bu ilacı nasıl almalıyım?

   Bu i-la-cı na-sıl al-ma-lı-yım?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Almak" = take. "-malıyım" is the obligation suffix "I must/should"

10. Reçete gerekli mi?

    Re-çe-te ge-rek-li mi?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Reçete" from French "recette". "Reçeteli ilaç" (prescription drug) vs "reçetesiz ilaç" (OTC drug)

11. Termometre

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a thermometer; the colloquial "derece" also means "degree", so this word is clearer

12. Sargı bezi

    Bandage

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a bandage at a pharmacy; an adhesive plaster is "yara bandı"

13. Dezenfektan

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    For buying disinfectant; for wound care ask for "yara antiseptiği" (povidone-iodine and the like)

14. Tıbbi maske

    Medical face mask

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a face mask; "maske" alone can also mean a cosmetic face pack or a costume mask

15. Hijyenik ped

    Sanitary pad

    Usage

    The wording used on pharmacy and supermarket shelves; a tampon is "tampon"

16. Prezervatif

    Condom

    Usage

    Point to this at a pharmacy; "kondom" is understood, but this is the usual shelf wording

17. Göz damlası

    Eye drops

    Usage

    For buying eye drops; some need a prescription, so ask whether it is "reçetesiz" (over the counter)

18. Ağrı bandı

    Pain-relief patch

    Usage

    The closest product to a Japanese compress; Turkish pharmacies more often stock a rub-on "ağrı kesici krem" instead

19. Ateş düşürücü

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for something to bring a fever down; a painkiller is "ağrı kesici"

20. Kabızlık ilacına ihtiyacım var

    Ka-bız-lık i-la-cı-na ih-ti-ya-cım var

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Ask for constipation medicine at a pharmacy; you can also say "müshil" (laxative)

    Grammar Note

    The same pattern as "İshal ilacına ihtiyacım var", with "ishal" replaced by "kabızlık" (constipation). "Müshil" is a medicine that stimulates the bowels so stool passes easily.

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