Pharmacy & Health

1. Apakah ada obat sakit kepala?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Apakah ada...?" is the standard "is there...?" question. Indonesian word order is similar to English

2. Saya perlu obat maag

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Maag" is borrowed from Dutch, meaning stomach/gastritis. Indonesian has many Dutch loanwords due to colonial history

3. Saya perlu obat diare

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Diare" is the medical term from Latin. "Mencret" is a more colloquial term, but "diare" is clearest at pharmacies

4. Saya demam

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Demam" means fever in both Indonesian and Malay. Add "tinggi" (high) for high fever

5. Saya punya alergi

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Alergi terhadap..." means "allergic to...". E.g., "alergi terhadap penisilin" (allergic to penicillin)

6. Saya perlu plester luka

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Plester" comes from Dutch "pleister". The brand name "Hansaplast" is also widely understood

7. Saya perlu obat nyamuk

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Obat nyamuk" = mosquito medicine. "Semprot nyamuk" = mosquito spray, "obat nyamuk bakar" = mosquito coil

8. Saya perlu tabir surya

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Tabir surya" literally means "sun curtain". The English word "sunscreen" is also commonly understood

9. Bagaimana cara minum obat ini?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask how to take medicine at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Bagaimana cara...?" asks "how to do something?" — a versatile question pattern

10. Apakah saya perlu resep dokter?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Resep" from Dutch "recept" means both prescription and recipe. "Resep dokter" = doctor's prescription

11. Resep dokter

    Prescription

    Usage

    "Resep" alone also means a cooking recipe, so "dokter" pins it to a medical prescription

12. Apotek

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Point to this when asking where a pharmacy is

13. Termometer

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Use when borrowing or buying a thermometer

14. Perban

    Bandage

    Usage

    For a wound dressing; an adhesive plaster is "plester"

15. Antiseptik

    Antiseptic

    Usage

    For wound disinfectant; the brand name "Betadine" is widely understood

16. Masker medis

    Medical face mask

    Usage

    "Masker" alone can also mean a beauty face pack, so "medis" pins it to a medical mask

17. Pembalut wanita

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    "Pembalut" alone can mean a wound dressing, so "wanita" pins it to sanitary pads

18. Kondom

    Condom

    Usage

    Use when asking for condoms

19. Obat tetes mata

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Use when asking for eye drops

20. Koyo

    Medicated patch

    Usage

    The patch for stiff shoulders and muscle pain; the word comes from Japanese and is the standard term in Indonesia

21. Obat penurun panas

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    For a fever reducer; shelves may also label it "penurun demam"

22. Saya perlu obat pencahar

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Asking a pharmacy for a laxative; "obat sembelit" (constipation medicine) also works

    Grammar Note

    The "Saya perlu obat + condition/type" frame (e.g. "Saya perlu obat diare"). "Pencahar" is the pharmacy term for laxative (synonym: laksatif)

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