English Doctor & Pharmacy Phrases

Level: B1. A visit to the doctor is stressful enough without fighting the language. Luckily it follows a clear path: book the appointment, describe what is wrong, answer a few questions, then pick up medicine at the pharmacy. Each step leans on two or three set frames — learn them and you can get help calmly and clearly.

By the end of this page you can…

…book a doctor’s appointment, describe your symptoms with the right frame, understand the doctor’s questions and advice, and ask the pharmacist for medicine and how to take it.

Making an appointment

Call or go to reception and open with I’d like to make an appointment. Then say whether it is urgent and give your availability.

Describing symptoms

Two frames do most of the work. Use I’ve got a … for a thing you have, and My … hurts for a body part that is painful.

Answering the doctor

The doctor asks short questions about where, how long and how bad. Keep answers short and specific.

At the pharmacy

Ask the pharmacist (the chemist in Britain) for something to treat your symptom, then check how to take it.

A short conversation

Doctor: What seems to be the problem? You: I’ve got a sore throat and a fever. Doctor: How long have you had this? You: For about three days. Doctor: Any allergies? You: Yes, I’m allergic to penicillin. Doctor: Alright. Take this twice a day after meals.

Example sentences

Press play and copy the rhythm. Imagine explaining each one to a receptionist, a doctor, or a pharmacist.

1. I'd like to make an appointment, please.
   Booking a visit at reception.
2. It's quite urgent.
   Saying you need to be seen soon.
3. Do you have anything today?
   Asking for the soonest slot.
4. I've got a headache.
   A pain or illness you 'have'.
5. I've got a sore throat.
   Naming a specific symptom.
6. I've got a cough and a cold.
   Listing common symptoms.
7. My back hurts.
   A painful body part.
8. My stomach hurts.
   Another painful body part.
9. I feel dizzy.
   Describing a feeling or state.
10. I've had a fever since yesterday.
    Adding how long it has lasted.
11. It hurts here, on my right side.
    Pointing to where the pain is.
12. I'm allergic to penicillin.
    Telling the doctor an important allergy.
13. I'm not taking any medication.
    Answering about current medicines.
14. Have you got anything for a cough?
    Asking the pharmacist for medicine.
15. Do I need a prescription for this?
    Checking if a doctor's note is needed.
16. How often should I take it?
    Asking the dosage frequency.
17. Can I take this with food?
    Checking how to take the medicine.
18. Are there any side effects?
    Asking about possible reactions.
19. Take it twice a day after meals.
    Understanding the dosage instructions.
20. I'm feeling much better, thank you.
    A friendly way to finish a visit.

Quick recap before you practise.

Common mistakes

These are the errors learners make most often at the doctor and pharmacy. Fix them and you sound clear and calm.

• ❌ I have this pain since three days. → ✅ I’ve had this pain for three days. — use for + a length of time with the present perfect.
• ❌ I have a pain in my head. → ✅ I’ve got a headache. — English has one word for the common ones: headache, stomachache, toothache.
• ❌ My back is hurting me. → ✅ My back hurts. — the body part is the subject; no object pronoun needed.
• ❌ I am allergic of penicillin. → ✅ I’m allergic to penicillin. — the preposition is to, not of.
• ❌ How many times a day I take it? → ✅ How often should I take it? — use should in the question for advice/instructions.

Usage notes

• chemist / chemist’s (BrE) = pharmacy / drugstore (AmE): the same place where you buy medicine.
• tablet and pill both mean a solid dose; a prescription is the written note from a doctor for some medicines.
• I’ve got … (BrE, informal) and I have … (neutral) are both fine: I’ve got a cold = I have a cold.
• painful describes the thing (a painful tooth); it hurts describes what you feel (my tooth hurts).
• GP (BrE) = general practitioner, your regular family doctor; a specialist treats one area.
• For the fuller health vocabulary and a clinic dialogue, see the related lessons linked at the bottom.

Practice

Practice

Doctor and pharmacy phrases practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Match each step to the right phrase.

• Booking a visit Match for Booking a visit — choose — Have you got anything for a cough?I'd like to make an appointment, please.I'm allergic to penicillin.I've got a sore throat.
• Describing a symptom Match for Describing a symptom — choose — Have you got anything for a cough?I'd like to make an appointment, please.I'm allergic to penicillin.I've got a sore throat.
• Answering the doctor Match for Answering the doctor — choose — Have you got anything for a cough?I'd like to make an appointment, please.I'm allergic to penicillin.I've got a sore throat.
• At the pharmacy Match for At the pharmacy — choose — Have you got anything for a cough?I'd like to make an appointment, please.I'm allergic to penicillin.I've got a sore throat.

Check

Show answer

• Booking a visit → I'd like to make an appointment, please.
• Describing a symptom → I've got a sore throat.
• Answering the doctor → I'm allergic to penicillin.
• At the pharmacy → Have you got anything for a cough?

Each step of a medical visit has its own set phrase.

2 Say how long: 'I've had this cough ____ three days.' (one word)

Check

Hint: a length of time takes this word

Show answer

for — Use 'for' + a length of time with the present perfect: for three days.

3 Correct preposition: 'I'm allergic ____ penicillin.' (one word)

Check

Hint: not 'of'

Show answer

to — The phrase is 'allergic to', never 'allergic of'.

4 Which describes a painful body part correctly?

My back is hurting me. My back hurts. I have pain my back. My back painful.

Check

Show answer

My back hurts. — 'My back hurts' — the body part is the subject, no extra object.

5 Put the words in order to ask the pharmacist.

for a cough?have you gotanything

CheckReset

Show answer

have you got anything for a cough? — The key pharmacy phrase: Have you got anything for a cough?

6 The doctor says 'Take it twice a day.' That means…

once each day two times each day every two hours only when it hurts

Check

Show answer

two times each day — 'Twice a day' = two times each day.

Quiz

Check yourself

Doctor and pharmacy phrases quiz

11 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/11 0 answered

1. 1The best way to start booking a visit is…

   A Give me a doctor. B I'd like to make an appointment, please. C I want doctor now. D Where is the doctor?
   Show answer

   I'd like to make an appointment, please. — 'I'd like to make an appointment, please' is the standard polite opener.

2. 2Which uses the right frame for an illness?

   A I am a headache. B I've got a headache. C I do a headache. D My headache hurts me.
   Show answer

   I've got a headache. — Use 'I've got a …' for an illness or symptom.

3. 3Which is correct for a painful body part?

   A My knee is hurting me. B My knee hurts. C I have pain my knee. D My knee painful.
   Show answer

   My knee hurts. — 'My knee hurts' — the body part is the subject.

4. 4'How long have you had this?' A good answer is…

   A Since three days. B For three days. C Three days before. D At three days.
   Show answer

   For three days. — Use 'for' + a length of time.

5. 5The correct preposition: 'I'm allergic ___ penicillin.'

   A of B to C from D with
   Show answer

   to — The phrase is 'allergic to'.

6. 6In British English, where do you buy medicine?

   A the clinic B the chemist's C the ward D the surgery theatre
   Show answer

   the chemist's — A 'chemist's' (BrE) = 'pharmacy/drugstore' (AmE).

7. 7You want medicine for a cough. You ask…

   A Give me cough. B Have you got anything for a cough? C I cough, help. D Cough medicine where?
   Show answer

   Have you got anything for a cough? — 'Have you got anything for …?' is the key pharmacy phrase.

8. 8You need to check how to take a medicine. You ask…

   A Is it tasty? B How often should I take it? C Who made it? D Is it cheap?
   Show answer

   How often should I take it? — 'How often should I take it?' asks the dosage frequency.

9. 9'Twice a day' means…

   A once a day B two times a day C every two days D whenever
   Show answer

   two times a day — 'Twice' = two times.

10. 10'Do I need a prescription for this?' asks whether…

    A it is expensive B you need a doctor's written note C it has sugar D it is in stock
    Show answer

    you need a doctor's written note — A prescription is the doctor's written note required for some medicines.

11. 11You feel better and want to thank the doctor. You say…

    A It is over. B I'm feeling much better, thank you. C Goodbye forever. D No more doctor.
    Show answer

    I'm feeling much better, thank you. — 'I'm feeling much better, thank you' is a warm, natural close.

Recap cheat-sheet

Next

• Deep-dive lessons: English: At the Doctor · English: Parts of the Body · English: Health & Lifestyle · English: Making Appointments
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• More phrase sets: English Phrases
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