Pharmacy & Health

1. Vai jums ir zāles pret galvassāpēm?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Latvia

   Grammar Note

   Latvian is Baltic, closely related to Lithuanian. "Vai" is the question marker. "Galvassāpes" = "head" (galva) + "pains" (sāpes)

2. Man vajag zāles kuņģim

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Man vajag" is a dative construction meaning "I need" (lit. "it is needed to me")

3. Man vajag zāles pret caureju

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Caureju" is the accusative of "caureja" (diarrhea). "Pret" (against) governs the accusative

4. Man ir drudzis

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Drudzis" is the Latvian word for fever. "Man ir" is the dative possessive (lit. "to me there is")

5. Man ir alerģija

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Alerģija" is a Greek-derived loanword. Latvian "ģ" represents a palatalized [g'] sound

6. Man vajag plāksterus

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Plāksterus" is the accusative plural of "plāksteris" (plaster), borrowed from German "Pflaster"

7. Man vajag insektu atbaidīšanas līdzekli

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Atbaidīšanas līdzeklis" means "means of repelling" = repellent

8. Man vajag sauļošanās krēmu

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Sauļošanās krēms" means "sunbathing cream" = sunscreen

9. Kā lieto šīs zāles?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Kā" is the Latvian adverb "how". "Lieto" is 3rd person present of "lietot" (to use)

10. Vai vajag recepti?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Recepti" is the accusative of "recepts" (prescription), derived from Latin

11. Ārsta recepte

    ĀR-sta RE-cep-te

    Prescription

    Usage

    "Recepte" alone also means a cooking recipe, so "ārsta" (doctor's) is added

12. Aptieka

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Also the word on the shop sign; usable as a destination

13. Termometrs

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Point at what you want to buy at the pharmacy

14. Pārsējs

    PĀR-sējs

    Bandage

    Usage

    A roll bandage; an adhesive plaster is "plāksteris"

15. Dezinfekcijas līdzeklis

    DE-zin-fek-ci-jas LĪ-dzek-lis

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    Covers both wound and hand disinfectant

16. Sejas maska

    Face mask

    Usage

    "Maska" alone can mean a carnival mask, so "sejas" (face) is added

17. Higiēniskās paketes

    HI-gi-ē-nis-kās PA-ke-tes

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    The wording on shop shelves too; always plural

18. Tamponi

    Tampons

    Usage

    Show this when looking for the right shelf

19. Prezervatīvs

    PRE-zer-va-tīvs

    Condom

    Usage

    Plural "prezervatīvi" when buying several

20. Acu pilieni

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Always plural; nasal drops are "deguna pilieni"

21. Pretdrudža līdzeklis

    PRET-dru-dža LĪ-dzek-lis

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    "Pret-" (against) + "drudzis" (fever); a painkiller is "pretsāpju līdzeklis"

22. Pretsāpju plāksteris

    PRET-sāp-ju PLĀK-ste-ris

    Pain-relief patch

    Usage

    The closest product to a Japanese compress; warming "sildošais plāksteris" is the common type

23. Man vajag zāles pret aizcietējumu

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Ask for medicine at the pharmacy when constipated. Phrased as "medicine against constipation", the counterpart of the anti-diarrhea card

    Grammar Note

    The same construction as the existing card "Man vajag zāles pret caureju". "Aizcietējumu" is the accusative of "aizcietējums" (constipation), governed by "pret"

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