You’re in Shiraz. The gardens are beautiful, the poetry is everywhere, and your stomach has declared war on you. Maybe it was the falafel from that street vendor, maybe it was the ice in the ab-havij. Doesn’t matter now. You need a pharmacy, and you need to explain what’s wrong in Farsi. Knowing farsi pharmacy medical phrases might be the most practical thing you learn this year. because sooner or later, Iran will test your digestive system.
This is Episode 10 of One Scene a Week. Today’s scene: you walk into a dârukhooneh (داروخانه. pharmacy) feeling terrible, and you need to communicate symptoms, understand instructions, and get out with the right medicine.
The Scene: A Bad Night in Shiraz
It’s 9 AM. You barely slept. Your stomach has been doing things that would violate the Geneva Convention. You’ve found a pharmacy two blocks from your hotel. the green cross sign is universal, thankfully. Inside, a pharmacist in a white coat looks at you and immediately knows something’s wrong. Probably your face color gave it away.
You don’t have the luxury of looking up every word. You need to communicate fast.
Full Dialogue: At the Pharmacy
| # | Speaker | Farsi | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | You | .سلام، ببخشید حالم خوب نیست | Salâm, bebakhshid hâlam khoob nist. | Hello, excuse me, I’m not feeling well. |
| 2 | Pharmacist | بفرمایید، چه مشکلی دارید؟ | Befarmâyid, che moshkeli dârid? | Go ahead, what’s the problem? |
| 3 | You | .شکمم خیلی درد میکنه. از دیشب حال تهوع دارم | Shekamam kheyli dard mikoneh. Az dishab hâl-e tahavvo’ dâram. | My stomach really hurts. I’ve been nauseous since last night. |
| 4 | Pharmacist | اسهال هم داشتید؟ | Es-hâl ham dâshtid? | Have you had diarrhea too? |
| 5 | You | .بله، چند بار. تب هم یه کم داشتم | Baleh, chand bâr. Tab ham ye kam dâshtam. | Yes, several times. I also had a slight fever. |
| 6 | Pharmacist | احتمالاً مسمومیت غذاییه. دیشب چی خوردید؟ | Ehtemâlan masmumiyat-e ghazâyi-yeh. Dishab chi khordid? | It’s probably food poisoning. What did you eat last night? |
| 7 | You | .از یه دستفروش فلافل خریدم. فکر کنم از اون بود | Az ye dast-forush falâfel kharidam. Fekr konam az oon bood. | I bought falafel from a street vendor. I think it was from that. |
| 8 | Pharmacist | .باشه. یه قرص ضد تهوع و یه بسته نمکآب بهتون میدم | Bâsheh. Ye ghors-e zedd-e tahavvo’ va ye basteh namak-âb behetoon midam. | Okay. I’ll give you an anti-nausea pill and an ORS packet. |
| 9 | You | ممنون. اینا رو چجوری بخورم؟ | Mamnoon. Inâ ro chejoori bekhooram? | Thanks. How should I take these? |
| 10 | Pharmacist | .قرص رو هر هشت ساعت یکی بخورید، بعد از غذا. نمکآب رو هم تو یه لیوان آب حل کنید و بخورید | Ghors ro har hasht sâ’at yeki bekhoorid, ba’d az ghazâ. Namak-âb ro ham too ye livân âb hal konid va bekhoorid. | Take one pill every eight hours, after food. Dissolve the ORS in a glass of water and drink it. |
| 11 | You | اگه بهتر نشدم چی؟ | Ageh behtar nashodam chi? | What if I don’t get better? |
| 12 | Pharmacist | .اگه تا فردا بهتر نشدید برید دکتر. ولی معمولاً با اینا خوب میشید | Ageh tâ fardâ behtar nashodid berid doctor. Vali ma’mulan bâ inâ khoob mishid. | If you’re not better by tomorrow, go to a doctor. But usually you’ll be fine with these. |
| 13 | You | خیلی ممنون. چقدر میشه؟ | Kheyli mamnoon. Cheqadr misheh? | Thank you very much. How much is it? |
| 14 | Pharmacist | .صد و پنجاه تومن میشه. انشاالله زودتر خوب بشید | Sad-o-panjâh toman misheh. Inshâllâh zoodtar khoob beshid. | It’s 150 toman. God willing you get better soon. |
Vocabulary Breakdown
These are the words that’ll save you when your body decides to rebel against street food.
| Farsi | Transliteration | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| درد میکنه | dard mikoneh | it hurts | Add body part before: shekamam dard mikoneh (my stomach hurts) |
| حال تهوع دارم | hâl-e tahavvo’ dâram | I’m nauseous | Literally “I have a state of nausea” |
| اسهال | es-hâl | diarrhea | Medical term, not taboo in pharmacies |
| تب | tab | fever | tab dâram = I have a fever |
| مسمومیت غذایی | masmumiyat-e ghazâyi | food poisoning | Very common phrase in Iran |
| قرص | ghors | pill/tablet | The most common word you’ll hear |
| شربت | sharbat | syrup (medicine) | Liquid medicine |
| پماد | pomâd | ointment/cream | For skin-related issues |
| داروخانه | dârukhooneh (spoken) / dârukhâneh (formal) | pharmacy | Green cross sign, found everywhere |
| هر چند ساعت | har chand sâ’at | every how many hours | Key question for dosage |
| بعد از غذا | ba’d az ghazâ | after food | Dosage instruction |
| قبل از غذا | ghabl az ghazâ | before food | Dosage instruction |
| نمکآب | namak-âb | ORS (oral rehydration salts) | Literally “salt-water” |
Body Parts: Point and Say
The formula is dead simple: [body part]-am dard mikoneh = my [body part] hurts. Here are the ones you’re most likely to need.
| Farsi | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| سرم درد میکنه | saram dard mikoneh | I have a headache |
| شکمم درد میکنه | shekamam dard mikoneh | My stomach hurts |
| گلوم درد میکنه | goloom dard mikoneh | My throat hurts |
| دندونم درد میکنه | dandoonam dard mikoneh | My tooth hurts |
| کمرم درد میکنه | kamaram dard mikoneh | My back hurts |
| زانوم درد میکنه | zânoom dard mikoneh | My knee hurts |
The -am at the end is “my.” So sar = head, saram = my head. Shekam = stomach, shekamam = my stomach. This pattern works for every body part. If you’ve been working on Farsi negation, you already know how to flip these to “doesn’t hurt”. just add na: dard namikoneh (درد نمیکنه).
Cultural Note: The Pharmacist-as-Doctor Phenomenon
Here’s something that surprises every foreigner in Iran: pharmacists there function as first-line healthcare. I’m not exaggerating. Walk into any dârukhooneh with a complaint, and the pharmacist will diagnose you, recommend treatment, and hand you medication. often without a prescription.
Things you can buy over the counter in Iran that would require a prescription in most Western countries: antibiotics, strong painkillers, muscle relaxants, certain anxiety medications. The pharmacist acts as a filter. they’ll ask your symptoms, assess severity, and tell you if you need to see a doctor or if they can handle it.
This isn’t some underground thing. It’s how the system works. Iranians go to the doctor for serious issues, but for everyday problems. cold, stomach bug, allergies, back pain. the pharmacy is the first stop. It’s faster, cheaper, and the pharmacists are genuinely knowledgeable. Most have a doctorate in pharmacy (PharmD) and take the diagnostic role seriously.
One more thing: prices will shock you. Medicine in Iran is heavily subsidized. That anti-nausea pill and ORS packet in the dialogue? 150 toman in the scene is a placeholder, but in reality you’d pay the equivalent of a couple of dollars for most basic medications. Coming from a country where an aspirin costs more than lunch, it feels surreal.
Cultural Note: Damnusheh Over Pills
Before you even get to the pharmacy, your Iranian host. whether it’s a hotel receptionist, a tour guide, or someone’s grandmother. will try to cure you with damnusheh (دمنوشه. herbal infusion/tea).
Stomach problems? Nâ’nâ dagh (نعنا داغ. hot mint tea). Headache? Bid meshk (بیدمشک. willow blossom water). Can’t sleep? Gol-e gâv-zabun (گل گاوزبان. borage flower tea). Iranians have a herbal remedy for everything, and they believe in it with a conviction that borders on religious.
Don’t fight this. Even if you know you need actual medicine, accept the damnusheh first. Say dast-etoon dard nakoneh (دستتون درد نکنه. may your hands not hurt, i.e., thank you for the effort). Drink it. Then go to the pharmacy. Rejecting someone’s damnusheh is like rejecting their love. it won’t go well.
If you’re building a vocabulary system for all these new words, my Anki guide for Persian walks you through setting up flashcards that actually stick.
Spoken vs. Formal: The Pharmacy Register
Notice how the pharmacist in the dialogue uses shomâ forms throughout. dâshtid, khordid, bekhoorid, berid. That’s professional register. You, as the customer, can also use shomâ, but it’s acceptable to use slightly more casual forms when describing your own symptoms.
| Spoken (what you’d say) | Formal (what the pharmacist says) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| درد میکنه dard mikoneh | درد میکند dard mikonad | Verb ending: -eh → -ad (written/formal) |
| بخورم bekhooram | بخورید bekhoorid | 1st person vs. polite imperative |
| بهتر نشدم behtar nashodam | بهتر نشدید behtar nashodid | Informal vs. formal “you” |
| چی خوردی chi khordi | چی خوردید chi khordid | Informal vs. formal “you” |
| برو دکتر boro doctor | برید دکتر berid doctor | Informal vs. formal imperative |
The interesting thing here: dard mikoneh (درد میکنه) is technically spoken, but it’s so universal that even doctors use it in conversation. The fully formal dard mikonad (درد میکند) sounds textbook-stiff. In a pharmacy, mikoneh is perfectly fine.
Also note: dâram (دارم. I have) stays the same in both registers. “Hâl-e tahavvo’ dâram” is the same whether you’re talking to a pharmacist or writing it in a medical form. One less thing to worry about when you’re sick and your brain is running at 40%.
Emergency Phrases: When Things Get Serious
Most pharmacy visits are minor. But just in case, here are the phrases for when you need more than a ghors.
| Farsi | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| باید برم بیمارستان | bâyad beram bimârestân | I need to go to the hospital |
| آمبولانس لازم دارم | âmbolâns lâzem dâram | I need an ambulance |
| آلرژی دارم به… | âlerzhi dâram be… | I’m allergic to… |
| به پنیسیلین حساسیت دارم | be penisilin hassâsiyat dâram | I’m sensitive to penicillin |
| بیمه ندارم | bimeh nadâram | I don’t have insurance |
| اورژانس کجاست؟ | orhâns kojâst? | Where is the emergency room? |
The allergy one is critical. If you have any drug allergies, memorize “âlerzhi dâram be [drug name]” before you land in Iran. Pharmacists will ask, but in a rushed situation, you need to volunteer this information yourself.
Planning a trip to Iran? The Farsi for travel guide covers the full range of situations you’ll face, from airports to restaurants to. yes. pharmacies.
Practice: Describe Your Symptoms
Try saying these out loud. If you can get through all five without hesitating, you’re pharmacy-ready.
1. “I have a headache and I feel nauseous.”
Answer: سرم درد میکنه و حال تهوع دارم. (Saram dard mikoneh va hâl-e tahavvo’ dâram.)
2. “How many times a day should I take this?”
Answer: این رو روزی چند بار بخورم؟ (In ro roozi chand bâr bekhooram?)
3. “I’m allergic to penicillin.”
Answer: به پنیسیلین آلرژی دارم. (Be penisilin âlerzhi dâram.)
4. “Do I take it before or after food?”
Answer: قبل از غذا بخورم یا بعد از غذا؟ (Ghabl az ghazâ bekhooram yâ ba’d az ghazâ?)
5. “I’ve had diarrhea since yesterday.”
Answer: از دیروز اسهال دارم. (Az dirooz es-hâl dâram.)
FAQs
How do you say “it hurts” in Farsi?
The phrase is “dard mikoneh” (درد میکنه). To specify what hurts, put the body part first with the possessive suffix -am (my): “saram dard mikoneh” (my head hurts), “shekamam dard mikoneh” (my stomach hurts), “goloom dard mikoneh” (my throat hurts). This pattern works for any body part.
Can you buy medicine without a prescription in Iran?
Yes, most common medications are available over the counter in Iranian pharmacies, including some that require prescriptions in Western countries. Pharmacists in Iran act as first-line healthcare providers. they’ll assess your symptoms, recommend treatment, and provide medication directly. For serious conditions, they’ll refer you to a doctor.
What is a damnusheh and why do Iranians recommend it for everything?
A damnusheh (دمنوشه) is a herbal infusion or tea. Iranians have a long tradition of herbal medicine. mint tea for stomach issues, borage flower tea for anxiety, willow blossom water for headaches. It’s deeply cultural, rooted in traditional Persian medicine (tebb-e sonnati). Even if you plan to take pharmacy medicine, accepting a damnusheh from your host is the polite thing to do.
How do I ask dosage instructions in Farsi?
The key phrases are: “in ro chejoori bekhooram?” (اینو چجوری بخورم. how should I take this?), “roozi chand bâr?” (روزی چند بار. how many times a day?), and “ghabl az ghazâ yâ ba’d az ghazâ?” (قبل از غذا یا بعد از غذا. before or after food?). The pharmacist will typically tell you “har [number] sâ’at” (every X hours).
What Farsi phrases should I know for a medical emergency in Iran?
The essential emergency phrases are: “bâyad beram bimârestân” (I need to go to the hospital), “âmbolâns lâzem dâram” (I need an ambulance), “orhâns kojâst?” (where is the ER?), and critically, “âlerzhi dâram be…” (I’m allergic to…) followed by the medication name. Iran’s emergency number is 115 for ambulance services.
Getting sick abroad is miserable. Getting sick abroad when you can’t explain what’s wrong is terrifying. But with a handful of phrases. dard mikoneh, hâl-e tahavvo’ dâram, cheqadr misheh. you can walk into any dârukhooneh in Iran and walk out with what you need. Your stomach will thank you.
Want to drill this scene’s vocab with flashcards? Try ZabanYar. it’s free and works offline.
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Want to run through medical scenarios live so you don’t freeze up when it matters? Grab a lesson with me on Preply. we’ll roleplay the pharmacy visit until the vocab is automatic.
One Scene a Week. Season 2: Getting Comfortable
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Part of the Functional Farsi cluster.