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En la farmacia
At the Pharmacy
Luis needs medicine for a sore throat in a foreign country, but he and the pharmacist do not speak the same language.
Three short parts. Read each part in Spanish first; tap “Show English” under a paragraph when you need the translation.
Part 1
Luis está de viaje en otro país y entra en una farmacia. No habla el idioma del lugar, pero necesita algo para el dolor de garganta.
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Luis is traveling in another country and goes into a pharmacy. He does not speak the local language, but he needs something for his sore throat.
La farmacéutica le dice algo y sonríe. Luis se toca la garganta y pone cara de dolor. Después, tose un poco y señala su cabeza. La mujer le hace una pregunta, pero él no entiende.
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The pharmacist says something to him and smiles. Luis touches his throat and makes a pained face. Then he coughs a little and points to his head. The woman asks him a question, but he does not understand.
Luis busca una foto en su teléfono. Es una foto de una caja de pastillas, pero la pantalla está apagada. Entonces abre la boca, se toca la garganta otra vez y hace el gesto de tomar una pastilla con la mano.
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Luis looks for a photo on his phone. It is a photo of a box of pills, but the screen is off. Then he opens his mouth, touches his throat again, and makes a gesture with his hand to show taking a pill.
La farmacéutica mira varios productos y pone dos cajas sobre el mostrador. Luis las mira. Una tiene un dibujo de una garganta y la otra tiene un dibujo de una cabeza.
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The pharmacist looks at several products and puts two boxes on the counter. Luis looks at them. One has a picture of a throat, and the other has a picture of a head.
Él quiere explicar que le duele la garganta, no la cabeza. Señala las dos cajas y levanta las manos, sin saber cuál elegir. La farmacéutica espera su respuesta.
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He wants to explain that his throat hurts, not his head. He points to the two boxes and raises his hands, not knowing which one to choose. The pharmacist waits for his answer.
Part 2La farmacia y la garganta(The Pharmacy and the Throat)
La farmacéutica entiende por fin. Señala la caja con el dibujo de la garganta y después señala a Luis. Luis sonríe y asiente con la cabeza: sí, quiere esa caja. Ella la toma y la pone delante de él.
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The pharmacist finally understands. She points to the box with the picture of a throat and then points to Luis. Luis smiles and nods: yes, he wants that box. She picks it up and puts it in front of him.
Pero la farmacéutica aún tiene otra pregunta. Se toca la frente y hace un gesto para indicar calor. Después señala un termómetro pequeño. Luis mira el termómetro y luego a la farmacéutica. ¿Le está preguntando si tiene fiebre?
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But the pharmacist has another question. She touches her forehead and makes a gesture to show heat. Then she points to a small thermometer. Luis looks at the thermometer and then at the pharmacist. Is she asking him if he has a fever?
Luis se toca la frente. No la siente caliente, así que cree que no tiene fiebre. Después se toca la garganta y tose otra vez. La farmacéutica espera.
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Luis touches his forehead. It does not feel hot, so he thinks he does not have a fever. Then he touches his throat and coughs again. The pharmacist waits.
Él quiere decirle que no tiene fiebre. Niega con la cabeza, pero la farmacéutica parece confundida. Entonces toma un papel y un bolígrafo. Dibuja una cara, una garganta y un número.
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He wants to tell her that he does not have a fever. He shakes his head, but the pharmacist seems confused. Then she takes a piece of paper and a pen. She draws a face, a throat, and a number.
Luis mira el dibujo. Ahora necesita explicar cuánto le duele.
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Luis looks at the drawing. Now he needs to explain how much it hurts.
Part 3
La farmacéutica señala el número uno y después el número diez. Luis entiende que quiere saber cuánto le duele. Piensa un momento, levanta seis dedos, se toca la garganta y pone cara de dolor.
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The pharmacist points to the number one and then the number ten. Luis understands that she wants to know how much it hurts. He thinks for a moment, holds up six fingers, touches his throat, and makes a pained face.
La mujer asiente. Toma la caja de pastillas para la garganta y le muestra una pastilla. Después levanta un dedo y hace el gesto de tomarla con agua. Luis mira la caja y asiente. También señala su frente y niega con la cabeza para decir que no tiene fiebre.
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The woman nods. She takes the box of throat pills and shows him a pill. Then she holds up one finger and makes a gesture to show taking it with water. Luis looks at the box and nods. He also points to his forehead and shakes his head to say that he does not have a fever.
La farmacéutica sonríe y le muestra el precio en una pantalla. Luis paga con su tarjeta. Ella le da la caja y un vaso pequeño de agua. Luis se toma una pastilla allí mismo. Después sonríe y hace un gesto de agradecimiento con la cabeza.
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The pharmacist smiles and shows him the price on a screen. Luis pays with his card. She gives him the box and a small glass of water. Luis takes a pill right there. Then he smiles and nods to say thank you.
Ahora los dos se entienden sin muchas palabras. Luis sale de la farmacia con sus pastillas y se siente más tranquilo.
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Now the two of them understand each other without many words. Luis leaves the pharmacy with his pills and feels calmer.
Practise this Spanish story
Vocabulary in context
Important words and phrases
farmacia
nounpharmacy
Entras en una farmacia.
You enter a pharmacy.
dolor de garganta
noun phrasesore throat
Tengo dolor de garganta.
I have a sore throat.
pastilla
nounpill
Toma una pastilla con agua.
Take a pill with water.
mostrador
nouncounter
La caja está sobre el mostrador.
The box is on the counter.
señalar
verbto point to
Señala la caja correcta.
He points to the correct box.
fiebre
nounfever
No tengo fiebre.
I do not have a fever.
entender
verbto understand
No entiendo la pregunta.
I do not understand the question.
pagar con tarjeta
verb phraseto pay by card
Paga con tarjeta en la farmacia.
He pays by card at the pharmacy.
agua
nounwater
Bebe agua con la pastilla.
He drinks water with the pill.
asiente con la cabeza
verb phrasenodding
Luis asiente con la cabeza.
Luis nods.
Check your understanding
Comprehension questions
Choose an answer, check it, then move to the next question.
Question 1 of 3
- Question 1: current not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
Notice the language
Language notes
Le duele + parte del cuerpo
Use this pattern to say that a body part hurts. It is formed with the indirect object pronoun "le" + "duele" + a singular body part, often with an article: "Le duele la garganta." This is useful for talking about pain in everyday situations.
Le duele la garganta.
His throat hurts.
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