At the Pharmacy

Здравейте!

Zdraveyte!

Hello!

Stepping up to the pharmacy window — greet the pharmacist before you explain.

Трябва ми нещо за главоболие.

Tryabva mi neshto za glavobolie.

I need something for a headache.

The everyday ask over the counter — swap the complaint for whatever's bothering you.

Трябва ми нещо за настинка.

Tryabva mi neshto za nastinka.

I need something for a cold.

First cold in a new country — the pharmacist will suggest what they stock.

Боли ме гърлото.

Boli me garloto.

My throat hurts.

Pointing to where it hurts as you say it — the pattern 'боли ме...' names any aching part.

Имате ли болкоуспокоително?

Imate li bolkouspokoitelno?

Do you have a painkiller?

When you know exactly what you want and just need to see if they carry it.

Имате ли нещо за кашлица?

Imate li neshto za kashlitsa?

Do you have something for a cough?

For the tail end of a cold — syrup or lozenges are usually right there on the shelf.

Трябва ли рецепта за това?

Tryabva li retsepta za tova?

Do I need a prescription for this?

Before you count on buying it — some medicines here are prescription only.

Как да го приемам?

Kak da go priemam?

How do I take it?

Once you've got the box in hand — this opens the dosage explanation.

Колко пъти на ден?

Kolko pati na den?

How many times a day?

Nailing down the schedule so you don't over- or under-dose.

Преди или след хранене?

Predi ili sled hranene?

Before or after food?

The other half of the instructions the pharmacist gives with any medicine.

Може ли да го напишете?

Mozhe li da go napishete?

Can you write it down?

Dosage is one thing you must get exactly right — a written note beats a misheard one.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

The moment the medical words lose you — this resets the conversation.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

The pharmacist runs through the instructions fast — this slows the dosage down.

Повторете, моля.

Povtorete, molya.

Please repeat that.

When the dose or the medicine name flew past you — ask for it a second time.

Говорите ли английски?

Govorite li angliyski?

Do you speak English?

A last resort when medical vocabulary is too much — many younger pharmacists do.

Благодаря ви!

Blagodarya vi!

Thank you!

Taking the bag and stepping away — the polite formal thanks for helpful service.

Боли ме главата.

Boli me glavata.

My head hurts.

The most common opener at the counter — 'боли ме' plus the body part names the ache.

Боли ме коремът.

Boli me koremat.

My stomach hurts.

For stomach trouble after a change of food and water — a first-week classic abroad.

Имам температура.

Imam temperatura.

I have a fever.

In Bulgarian 'температура' on its own already means a raised temperature — no need to add 'high'.

Имам висока температура.

Imam visoka temperatura.

I have a high fever.

When it's bad enough to flag — this nudges the pharmacist toward a stronger antipyretic.

Имам кашлица.

Imam kashlitsa.

I have a cough.

State the symptom plainly and let them ask dry or chesty before suggesting a syrup.

Имам суха кашлица.

Imam suha kashlitsa.

I have a dry cough.

Dry versus chesty decides the medicine — say 'суха' so they pick the right syrup.

Имам хрема.

Imam hrema.

I have a runny nose.

The everyday cold complaint — 'хрема' covers a runny, dripping nose.

Носът ми е запушен.

Nosat mi e zapushen.

My nose is blocked.

When it's stuffy rather than runny — points them toward a decongestant spray.

Имам болки по цялото тяло.

Imam bolki po tsyaloto tyalo.

I ache all over.

The flu-like all-over ache — signals you may want a combined cold-and-flu remedy.

Имам обрив.

Imam obriv.

I have a rash.

Showing a skin reaction — they'll ask if it itches before offering a cream.

Алергичен съм.

Alergichen sam.

I'm allergic. (male speaker)

A male speaker says 'алергичен'; the pharmacist will ask allergic to what.

Алергична съм.

Alergichna sam.

I'm allergic. (female speaker)

A female speaker says 'алергична' — the adjective takes the feminine ending.

Гади ми се.

Gadi mi se.

I feel nauseous.

The set phrase for queasiness — often paired with the stomach complaint.

Имате ли нещо против температура?

Imate li neshto protiv temperatura?

Do you have something for a fever?

'против' (against) is the natural word for a remedy aimed at a symptom.

Дайте ми нещо за хрема.

Dayte mi neshto za hrema.

Give me something for a runny nose.

'Дайте' is the perfective imperative — the direct, polite way to ask over the counter.

Трябва ми нещо за болки.

Tryabva mi neshto za bolki.

I need something for pain.

General pain relief — 'болки' is the plural noun Bulgarians use for aches.

Трябва ми нещо за алергия.

Tryabva mi neshto za alergiya.

I need something for an allergy.

Hay-fever season abroad — this opens the antihistamine conversation.

Имате ли нещо за стомах?

Imate li neshto za stomah?

Do you have something for the stomach?

For indigestion or an upset stomach — a common ask after unfamiliar food.

Имате ли антихистамин?

Imate li antihistamin?

Do you have an antihistamine?

When you already know the drug class you want — the term is the same as in English.

Трябва ми нещо за диария.

Tryabva mi neshto za diariya.

I need something for diarrhea.

An awkward but essential ask when travel upsets your stomach.

Имате ли таблетки за смучене за гърло?

Imate li tabletki za smuchene za garlo?

Do you have throat lozenges?

'таблетки за смучене' literally means lozenges — the phrase Bulgarians use.

Дайте ми спрей за нос.

Dayte mi sprey za nos.

Give me a nasal spray.

For a blocked nose — the perfective 'Дайте' asks for it directly.

Предпочитам хапчета.

Predpochitam hapcheta.

I prefer pills.

When offered a choice — 'хапчета' is the everyday word for tablets or pills.

Имате ли това като сироп?

Imate li tova kato sirop?

Do you have this as a syrup?

Handy if you struggle with pills or are buying for a child.

Имате ли капки за нос?

Imate li kapki za nos?

Do you have nasal drops?

'капки' covers drops for nose, eyes or ears — add the body part to be clear.

Трябва ми мехлем.

Tryabva mi mehlem.

I need an ointment.

For a rash, bruise or sore muscle — 'мехлем' is a topical cream or salve.

Имате ли обезболяващи лепенки?

Imate li obezbolyavashti lepenki?

Do you have pain-relief patches?

'лепенки' are stick-on patches — the 'обезболяващи' ones ease muscle or back pain.

Дайте ми капки за очи.

Dayte mi kapki za ochi.

Give me eye drops.

For dry or irritated eyes — the perfective 'Дайте' asks for them directly.

Имате ли разтворими таблетки?

Imate li raztvorimi tabletki?

Do you have soluble tablets?

'разтворими' tablets dissolve in water — popular here for cold-and-flu powders.

Имате ли спрей за гърло?

Imate li sprey za garlo?

Do you have a throat spray?

An alternative to lozenges for a sore throat — sprayed straight onto it.

По колко таблетки да пия?

Po kolko tabletki da piya?

How many tablets should I take?

'По колко' asks how many per dose — the first thing to pin down.

На всеки колко часа?

Na vseki kolko chasa?

Every how many hours?

Spacing out the doses safely — 'на всеки колко часа' is the set way to ask.

Може ли да взема повече?

Mozhe li da vzema poveche?

Can I take more?

When one dose didn't help — check before you double up on anything.

Колко дни да го приемам?

Kolko dni da go priemam?

For how many days should I take it?

Especially important for antibiotics — finish the full course they name.

Колко е максималната доза на ден?

Kolko e maksimalnata doza na den?

What's the maximum dose per day?

The safety ceiling — worth asking with any painkiller you take often.

Да го пия ли с вода?

Da go piya li s voda?

Should I take it with water?

A quick check for tablets that need washing down or dissolving.

На гладно ли да го приемам?

Na gladno li da go priemam?

Should I take it on an empty stomach?

'на гладно' means on an empty stomach — some medicines work better that way.

Това с рецепта ли е?

Tova s retsepta li e?

Is this prescription-only?

'с рецепта ли е' asks whether a prescription is required before you rely on buying it.

Имате ли нещо без рецепта?

Imate li neshto bez retsepta?

Do you have something without a prescription?

'без рецепта' means over-the-counter — the fallback when you have no script.

Нося рецепта от лекаря.

Nosya retsepta ot lekarya.

I have a prescription from the doctor.

Handing over a paper script — 'нося' (I'm carrying) is how you present it.

Рецептата ми е електронна.

Retseptata mi e elektronna.

My prescription is electronic.

Bulgaria uses e-prescriptions — the pharmacist pulls it up from your ID, no paper needed.

Ще ви дам ЕГН-то си.

Shte vi dam EGN-to si.

I'll give you my ID number.

ЕГН is the Bulgarian national ID number the pharmacist needs to find an e-prescription.

Може ли да купя без рецепта?

Mozhe li da kupya bez retsepta?

Can I buy it without a prescription?

When you'd rather not wait for a doctor — ask whether it's sold over the counter.

Трябва ми нещо за дете.

Tryabva mi neshto za dete.

I need something for a child.

Flag straight away that it's for a child so they steer you to children's doses.

Детето е на три години.

Deteto e na tri godini.

The child is three years old.

Age drives the dose — swap 'три' for however old your child is.

Имате ли сироп за температура за деца?

Imate li sirop za temperatura za detsa?

Do you have a children's fever syrup?

Children's fever medicine usually comes as a measured syrup rather than pills.

Каква е дозата според теглото?

Kakva e dozata spored tegloto?

What's the dose by weight?

Children's syrups are dosed by weight — 'според теглото' asks them to work it out.

Безопасно ли е за деца?

Bezopasno li e za detsa?

Is it safe for children?

A must-ask before giving an adult medicine to a child in a pinch.

От колко години е разрешено?

Ot kolko godini e razresheno?

From what age is it allowed?

Many medicines have a minimum age — check before you buy for a young child.

Имате ли капки за бебе?

Imate li kapki za bebe?

Do you have drops for a baby?

For an infant, drops are gentler than syrup — 'бебе' means baby, not older child.

Какви са страничните ефекти?

Kakvi sa stranichnite efekti?

What are the side effects?

'странични ефекти' is the standard term — ask before starting anything new.

Ще ме приспива ли?

Shte me prispiva li?

Will it make me drowsy?

Antihistamines and cold remedies often cause drowsiness — worth knowing before work.

Може ли да карам кола?

Mozhe li da karam kola?

Can I drive?

A key safety check — some medicines here carry a no-driving warning.

Може ли с алкохол?

Mozhe li s alkohol?

Can I take it with alcohol?

Some medicines don't mix with alcohol — a quick check before an evening out.

Бременна съм.

Bremenna sam.

I'm pregnant.

Said by a female speaker — it changes which medicines the pharmacist will offer.

Кърмя.

Karmya.

I'm breastfeeding.

'Кърмя' (I breastfeed) flags another safety concern for the pharmacist.

Пия и други лекарства.

Piya i drugi lekarstva.

I take other medicines too.

Flagging possible interactions — mention this before they hand anything over.

Алергична съм към пеницилин.

Alergichna sam kam penitsilin.

I'm allergic to penicillin. (female speaker)

A female speaker says 'алергична'; a male would say 'алергичен към пеницилин'.

Дайте ми лейкопласт.

Dayte mi leykoplast.

Give me some plasters.

'лейкопласт' is the adhesive plaster or sticking tape for small cuts.

Трябва ми бинт.

Tryabva mi bint.

I need a bandage.

'бинт' is a roll of bandage for wrapping a sprain or larger wound.

Имате ли дезинфектант?

Imate li dezinfektant?

Do you have disinfectant?

For cleaning a cut before you cover it — a first-aid-kit staple.

Трябва ми термометър.

Tryabva mi termometar.

I need a thermometer.

To track a fever at home — pharmacies sell digital ones over the counter.

Имате ли маски?

Imate li maski?

Do you have masks?

Face masks — kept behind the counter at most pharmacies.

Дайте ми стерилна марля.

Dayte mi sterilna marlya.

Give me some sterile gauze.

'стерилна марля' is sterile gauze for dressing a wound before bandaging.

Имате ли пелени за бебе?

Imate li peleni za bebe?

Do you have baby diapers?

'пелени' are nappies — pharmacies stock them alongside baby care items.

Трябва ми мокри кърпички.

Tryabva mi mokri karpichki.

I need wet wipes.

'мокри кърпички' are wet wipes — a baby-changing and general-hygiene essential.

Какво препоръчвате?

Kakvo preporachvate?

What do you recommend?

The single most useful line at the counter — let the pharmacist pick for you.

Препоръчайте ми нещо.

Preporachayte mi neshto.

Recommend me something.

'Препоръчайте' is the perfective imperative — a direct request for a suggestion.

Спешно ли е?

Speshno li e?

Is it urgent?

When you're unsure how serious it is — asks whether it can wait or not.

Трябва ли да отида на лекар?

Tryabva li da otida na lekar?

Should I go to a doctor?

Pharmacists here will tell you honestly when it's beyond over-the-counter care.

За колко време ще мине?

Za kolko vreme shte mine?

How long until it goes away?

Setting expectations — 'ще мине' means it'll pass, asking roughly when.

Покажете ми какво имате.

Pokazhete mi kakvo imate.

Show me what you have.

'Покажете' is the perfective imperative — invites them to lay the options out.

Имате ли по-евтин вариант?

Imate li po-evtin variant?

Do you have a cheaper option?

Brand-name medicines cost more — this asks for the budget alternative.

Имате ли генеричен вариант?

Imate li generichen variant?

Do you have a generic version?

A generic has the same active ingredient for less — a smart, specific ask.

Колко струва в евро?

Kolko struva v evro?

How much is it in euros?

Bulgaria prices medicines in euro — this asks the total before you pay.