Pharmacy & Health

1. தலைவலி மருந்து இருக்கிறதா?

   Talaivali maruntu irukkiṟatā?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Tamil Nadu or Sri Lanka

   Grammar Note

   "Irukkirataa?" = "Is there?" "தலைவலி மருந்து" is a compound of headache (தலைவலி) + medicine (மருந்து), meaning "headache medicine"

2. எனக்கு வயிற்று மருந்து வேண்டும்

   Eṉakku vayiṟṟu maruntu vēṇṭum

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Enakku...ventum" = "I need..." — the standard Tamil expression of necessity

3. எனக்கு வயிற்றுப்போக்கு மருந்து வேண்டும்

   Eṉakku vayiṟṟuppōkku maruntu vēṇṭum

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Vayiru" (stomach) + "pokku" (going/flow) = diarrhea in Tamil

4. எனக்கு காய்ச்சல் இருக்கிறது

   Eṉakku kāyccal irukkiṟatu

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Kaychal" is the native Tamil word for fever

5. எனக்கு ஒவ்வாமை இருக்கிறது

   Eṉakku ovvāmai irukkiṟatu

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Ovvamai" = "something that doesn't suit" — the native Tamil word for allergy

6. எனக்கு பிளாஸ்டர் வேண்டும்

   Eṉakku piḷāsṭar vēṇṭum

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   English "plaster" is used directly. "Band-Aid" is also recognized

7. எனக்கு கொசு விரட்டி வேண்டும்

   Eṉakku kocu viraṭṭi vēṇṭum

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Kosu viratti" = "mosquito chaser" — the Tamil expression for mosquito repellent

8. எனக்கு சன்ஸ்க்ரீன் வேண்டும்

   Eṉakku caṉskrīṉ vēṇṭum

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Sunscreen" used directly from English. "Veyil taduppu cream" is the Tamil equivalent

9. இந்த மருந்தை எப்படி சாப்பிட வேண்டும்?

   Inta maruntai eppaṭi cāppiṭa vēṇṭum?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   Tamil uses "saappida" (eat) for taking medicine, consistent with other South Asian languages

10. மருந்துச் சீட்டு தேவையா?

    Maruntuc cīṭṭu tēvaiyā?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Maruntu-c-cittu" = "medicine paper" — the Tamil term for prescription. Many Indian medicines are OTC

11. மருந்துச் சீட்டு

    maruntuc cīṭṭu

    Prescription

    Usage

    The prescription slip itself; point to ask a pharmacist whether one is required

12. மருந்தகம்

    maruntakam

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    The word for a pharmacy; point when asking directions. Shop boards usually read "MEDICALS" in English

13. தெர்மாமீட்டர்

    termāmīṭṭar

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Ask for a thermometer at a pharmacy; more readily understood over the counter than the formal veppamaani

14. கட்டுத்துணி

    kaṭṭuttuṇi

    Bandage

    Usage

    For buying a bandage; the loanword "bandage" is understood just as well

15. கிருமி நாசினி

    kirumi nāciṉi

    Disinfectant

    Usage

    For buying wound disinfectant; asking for the brand "Dettol" often works just as well

16. மாஸ்க்

    māsk

    Face mask

    Usage

    What people actually say when buying a mask; official signage writes it as mugak kavasam

17. சானிட்டரி நாப்கின்

    cāṉiṭṭari nāpkiṉ

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    Point at a pharmacy or general store; this loan phrase is the standard counter term

18. ஆணுறை

    āṇuṟai

    Condom

    Usage

    The term used on packaging and health campaigns; the loanword "condom" is also common in speech

19. கண் சொட்டு மருந்து

    kaṇ coṭṭu maruntu

    Eye drops

    Usage

    For buying eye drops after dust or dryness irritates your eyes

20. வலி நிவாரண களிம்பு

    vali nivāraṇa kaḷimpu

    Pain relief balm

    Usage

    Adhesive pain patches are rarely sold in India; a rub-on balm (Amrutanjan and similar) is the standard, and this asks for it

21. காய்ச்சல் மாத்திரை

    kāyccal māttirai

    Fever tablet

    Usage

    How you ask for a fever reducer; this gets you paracetamol

22. எனக்கு மலமிளக்கி வேண்டும்

    Eṉakku malamiḷakki vēṇṭum

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Phrase for asking for medicine at a pharmacy when constipated

    Grammar Note

    "மலம்" (stool) + "இளக்கி" (a loosener). Same "எனக்கு ... வேண்டும்" frame as "எனக்கு வயிற்றுப்போக்கு மருந்து வேண்டும்"

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