Latest / Learn Italian with Fexingo / Italian at the Pharmacy – Buying Medicine
Transcript
- Lucas: Ciao, Luna! Ready for another Italian lesson? Luna: Ciao, Lucas! I'm always ready. What are we learning today? Lucas: Today we're going to the pharmacy. Imagine you're in Italy and you need some medicine. Luna: Oh, that's useful. I hope I don't actually get sick, but good to know. Lucas: First phrase: Ho mal di testa. That means 'I have a headache.' Repeat: Ho mal di testa. Luna: Ho mal di testa. Hmm, sounds like 'mal di testa' is headache. Lucas: Exactly. Mal means pain, testa is head. So mal di testa is headache. Good. Luna: Ho mal di testa. I can remember that. Lucas: Now, if you need to say you need something, use: Ho bisogno di... So, Ho bisogno di una medicina. I need some medicine. Luna: Ho bisogno di una medicina. That's a mouthful. Ho bisogno di... I need. Lucas: Yes. Ho bisogno di is a very useful expression. Let's practice: Ho bisogno di una medicina. Luna: Ho bisogno di una medicina. Okay, I got it. Lucas: Then you might ask: Quanto costa? How much does it cost? Very handy. Luna: Quanto costa. That sounds familiar from the bakery episodes, right? Lucas: Exactly! It's the same. Quanto costa? for one item. For multiple, you'd say Quanto costano? Luna: Oh, right. So for medicine, it's singular. Quanto costa? Lucas: Yes. And when you decide to buy it, say: Prendo questa. I'll take this one. Prendo is 'I take'. Luna: Prendo questa. So if it's masculine, Prendo questo? Lucas: Right! If the medicine is masculine, you say Prendo questo. But medicine – medicina – is feminine, so questa. Luna: Got it. Prendo questa. Lucas: And finally, a polite thanks: Grazie, dottore. Or just Grazie. But at a pharmacy, you might say Grazie, dottore. Luna: Wait, is the pharmacist a doctor? Lucas: In Italy, pharmacists are often called dottore as a sign of respect. So you can say Grazie, dottore. Luna: Good to know. Grazie, dottore. Lucas: Now let's put it all in a mini dialogue. You're at the pharmacy. You say: Ho mal di testa. Luna: Ho mal di testa. Lucas: Then: Ho bisogno di una medicina. Luna: Ho bisogno di una medicina. Lucas: The pharmacist shows you one. You ask: Quanto costa? Luna: Quanto costa? Lucas: They tell you the price. You say: Prendo questa. Luna: Prendo questa. Lucas: And then: Grazie, dottore. Luna: Grazie, dottore. Lucas: Perfect! You just bought medicine in Italian. Luna: That feels great. But Lucas, I have a question. What if I need something else? Like a bandage? Lucas: You can use the same formula. Ho bisogno di un cerotto. Cerotto is bandage. Luna: Ho bisogno di un cerotto. Good. Lucas: You know, it's amazing how these phrases can help you in real situations. And speaking of help, I want to mention something. Luna: Sure, what's up? Lucas: We keep this show ad-free on purpose. We believe learning should be a clean experience, without interruptions. Luna: Yeah, I love that about Fexingo. No ads, just Italian. Lucas: Right. And if you find value in what we do, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. That helps us keep it ad-free. Luna: That's a nice way to support. Okay, back to our phrases! So, can we do a recap? Lucas: Of course. Let's say each phrase one more time. Listeners, repeat after Luna. Luna: Ho mal di testa. Lucas: Ho mal di testa. Luna: Ho bisogno di una medicina. Lucas: Ho bisogno di una medicina. Luna: Quanto costa? Lucas: Quanto costa? Luna: Prendo questa. Lucas: Prendo questa. Luna: Grazie, dottore. Lucas: Grazie, dottore. Luna: I think I've got it now. Grazie, Lucas! Lucas: Prego, Luna. And grazie to everyone listening. Practice these phrases, and next time you're in Italy, you'll be ready. Luna: See you next time, ciao! Lucas: Ciao!