Pharmacy & Health

1. An bhfuil cógas agaibh le haghaidh tinnis cinn?

   Un vwil KOH-gus a-GIV leh HY-ig TIN-ish kin?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine in Irish at a pharmacy (cógaslann)

   Grammar Note

   The compound preposition "le haghaidh" governs the genitive, so "tinneas" becomes "tinnis" ("cinn" is already the genitive of "ceann")

2. Tá cógas goile uaim

   Tah koh-gas gal-eh u-im

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Tá...uaim" = "I need" (lit. "...is away from me") — an Irish idiom

3. Tá cógas in aghaidh na buinní uaim

   Taw KOH-gus in EYE-ig na BWIN-ee oo-im

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "in aghaidh" + genitive means "against". "buinneach" (diarrhoea) is feminine; its genitive is "buinní", taking the article "na"

4. Tá fiabhras orm

   Tah feev-ras or-um

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Tá...orm" = "I have..." (lit. "it is on me") — Irish way to express bodily states

5. Tá ailléirge agam

   Tah al-erg-eh ag-um

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Tá ailléirge agam do..." = "I am allergic to..." in Irish

6. Tá greimlín uaim

   Taw GREM-leen oo-im

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Greimlín" is the standard Irish for a sticking plaster; "plástar" is also used

7. Tá éarthach feithidí uaim

   Taw AIR-hukh FEH-i-dee oo-im

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Ireland has many midges and insects. "Éarthach" = repellent; "feithid" = insect (gen. pl. "feithidí")

8. Tá uachtar gréine uaim

   Taw OOKH-tur GRAY-neh oo-im

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Grian" (sun) mutates to "gréine" (of the sun) in Irish grammar

9. Conas a ghlacfaidh mé an cógas seo?

   Ku-nus a glak-hig may an koh-gas show?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Conas" means "how" in Irish

10. An bhfuil oideas de dhíth orm?

    An will id-us deh yee or-um?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Gan oideas" = without prescription (OTC) is a key Irish pharmacy term

11. oideas dochtúra

    UJ-as DUKH-too-ra

    Doctor's prescription

    Usage

    Point at it when handing over a prescription or checking whether one is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Oideas" on its own also means a cooking recipe, so "dochtúra" (of a doctor) is added to disambiguate

12. an chógaslann

    un KHOHG-as-lun

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where a pharmacy is; shopfronts are signed "Cógaslann"

    Grammar Note

    "cógaslann" (fem.), lenited to "an chógaslann"; a pharmacist is "poitigéir"

13. bindealán

    BIN-jal-awn

    Bandage

    Usage

    Point at it to buy a bandage; a sticking plaster is "greimlín"

    Grammar Note

    "Bindealán" is masculine

14. díghalrán

    DEE-al-rawn

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    Point at it to buy something to clean a wound

    Grammar Note

    From "dí-" (un-) + "galar" (disease); an antiseptic is "frithsheipteán"

15. masc aghaidhe

    mask EYE-eh

    Face mask

    Usage

    Point at it to buy a hygiene face mask

    Grammar Note

    "Masc" alone can mean a costume mask or a beauty mask, so "aghaidhe" (of the face) narrows it

16. tuáillí sláintíochta

    TOO-aw-lee SLAWN-tchee-okh-ta

    Sanitary towels

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where they are; tampons are "taimpúin"

    Grammar Note

    Plural of "tuáille" (towel) + genitive of "sláintíocht" (sanitation)

17. coiscín

    KUSH-keen

    Condom

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where they are; sold in pharmacies and convenience shops in Ireland

    Grammar Note

    "Coiscín" is masculine, derived from "cosc" (prevention)

18. braonta súl

    BRAY-un-ta sool

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Point at it to buy eye drops

    Grammar Note

    Plural of "braon" (drop) + genitive plural "súl" (of eyes)

19. cógas in aghaidh fiabhrais

    KOHG-as in EYE FEE-av-rish

    Fever medicine

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for something to bring a fever down; in practice you will be handed "paraicéatamól"

    Grammar Note

    "In aghaidh" (against) + genitive "fiabhrais" (of fever)

20. teirmiméadar

    TER-i-may-dar

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Point at it to buy a thermometer

    Grammar Note

    "Teirmiméadar" is masculine and covers both clinical and weather thermometers

21. Purgóid, le do thoil

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Asks for a laxative at the pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    "Purgóid" is the feminine noun for "laxative". To explain the symptom, add "Tá iatacht orm"

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