Pharmacy & Health

1. Imate li lijek za glavobolju?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Croatia

   Grammar Note

   Croatian is South Slavic. "-li" is a question particle. "Glavobolja" = "head" (glava) + "pain" (bol)

2. Trebam lijek za želudac

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Trebati" means "to need". Croatian has rich case inflections typical of Slavic languages

3. Trebam lijek protiv proljeva

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Proljev" is the Croatian word for diarrhea. "Protiv" (against) governs the genitive case

4. Imam temperaturu

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Temperaturu" is the accusative of "temperatura". Croatians say "I have a temperature" for fever

5. Imam alergiju

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Alergiju" is the accusative of "alergija" (allergy). "Imam" is 1st person singular of "imati" (to have)

6. Trebam flastere

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Flastere" is the accusative plural of "flaster" (band-aid), borrowed from German "Pflaster"

7. Trebam sprej protiv insekata

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Insekata" is the genitive plural of "insekt". "Protiv" requires genitive case

8. Trebam kremu za sunčanje

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Krema za sunčanje" means "cream for sunbathing". "Za" (for) governs the accusative case

9. Kako se uzima ovaj lijek?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Se uzima" is the reflexive passive. Croatian uses the reflexive particle "se" for passive constructions

10. Je li potreban recept?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Je li" is the Croatian yes/no question marker. "Recept" is Latin-derived for prescription

11. Toplomjer

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a thermometer at a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    The native Croatian coinage "toplomjer" (heat-measurer); the Serbian "termometar" is understood but shelf labels use this. Masculine noun

12. Zavoj

    Bandage

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a bandage; gauze is "gaza" and a plaster "flaster"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun. The same word also means a bend in a road, so outside a pharmacy it reads as a curve

13. Sredstvo za dezinfekciju

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    Point to this to buy wound disinfectant; hand sanitiser is "dezinficijens za ruke"

14. Zaštitna maska

    Face mask

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a face mask; "maska" alone can also mean a carnival mask, so "zaštitna" (protective) is added

15. Higijenski ulošci

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    Point to this to buy sanitary pads; tampons are "tamponi" and a menstrual cup "menstrualna čašica"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural; the singular is "higijenski uložak"

16. Kondomi

    Condoms

    Usage

    Point to this at a pharmacy or drugstore; in Croatia they are also sold in supermarkets and kiosks

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural; the singular is "kondom"

17. Kapi za oči

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Point to this to buy eye drops; nose drops are "kapi za nos" and ear drops "kapi za uši"

18. Lijek za snižavanje temperature

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for something to bring a fever down; the usual products in Croatian pharmacies are paracetamol (brand Lupocet) and ibuprofen

    Grammar Note

    "Lijek" is the ijekavian form (Serbian: "lek"). Masculine noun

19. Lijek protiv bolova

    Painkiller

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for a painkiller; a topical pain gel is "gel protiv bolova"

20. Trebam laksativ

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Ask for a laxative at the pharmacy; literally "I need a laxative". "Lijek za zatvor" is avoided because "zatvor" also means prison

    Grammar Note

    The same "Trebam + noun (accusative)" frame as "Trebam lijek protiv proljeva". "Laksativ" is a masculine noun, a drug that promotes emptying of the bowels; for an inanimate masculine noun the accusative equals the nominative

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