Lektionsüberblick

This lesson will focus on talking about injuries (in the past, since we generally don’t talk about an injury as it is happening) and where you can buy medical supplies and medication.  In the end, you will be able to 1) talk about injuries and their typical treatments and 2) differentiate between an Apotheke and Drogerie.

1) Verletzungen

In this final section, we will look at the language around some common injuries. Let’s start with an introduction to such injuries.

2) Apotheke oder Drogerie?

In the USA and Canada, one typically goes to a “drug store” (or even a grocery store) which is often a one-stop shop with many items for personal care that includes a pharmacy where one can fill medical prescriptions and seek medical advice for common ailments.

In German-speaking countries, these two are separated. A Drogerie sells personal care products, first-aid products, vitamins, and perhaps some herb-based remedies, but Drogerien sell a very limited selection of over-the-counter medications, if any at all.

To purchase medicine prescribed by your doctor or over-the-counter medicine, you need to go to an Apotheke and speak with a licensed pharmacist: die Apothekerin/der Apotheker. In an Apotheke, you can pick up prescriptions, purchase over-the-counter medicines, or the pharmacist may recommend and create a non-traditional medicinal option, such as a special tea blend known to help relieve common symptoms.

Store operating hours in German-speaking countries are significantly more restricted than they are in the USA and Canada, however there will always be at least one local Apotheke open during the night for medical emergencies. If your local Apotheke is closed, it will have information posted that will tell you where the nearest open Nachtapotheke is located.

Let’s learn where we can buy certain personal care items – in a Apotheke or Drogerie.

Now let’s practice!

Want more? Here’s more vocabulary related to the Apotheke.

Media Attributions

• Apothekesymbol photo collage: Logo Pharmacy by Ondrej Janovec (Public Domain license), Graz Wienerstraße by TheRunnerUp (CC BY-SA International License), and Alte Apotheke Waltershausen by Metilsteiner (CC BY-SA International License).