Pharmacy & Health

1. Je, mna dawa ya maumivu ya kichwa?

   Je, mna da-wa ya mau-mi-vu ya kich-wa?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in East Africa

   Grammar Note

   "Je, mna...?" is the polite Swahili question form for "do you have...?"

2. Ninahitaji dawa ya tumbo

   Ni-na-hi-ta-ji da-wa ya tum-bo

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Ninahitaji" = "ni" (I) + "na" (present) + "hitaji" (need). Swahili verbs combine subject, tense, and verb root

3. Ninahitaji dawa ya kuzuia kuhara

   Ni-na-hi-ta-ji da-wa ya ku-zu-i-a ku-ha-ra

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Dawa ya kuzuia kuhara" = "medicine to stop diarrhea". "Kuhara" = to have diarrhea, "kuzuia" = to prevent/keep back. "Kuharisha" can mean to cause diarrhea, so it is not used for a remedy

4. Nina homa

   Ni-na ho-ma

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Homa" can mean fever or malaria. In East Africa, pharmacists often check for malaria symptoms

5. Nina mzio

   Ni-na mzi-o

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Mzio wa..." = "allergy to...". The English loanword "aleji" (allergy) is also used

6. Ninahitaji plasta ya jeraha

   Ni-na-hi-ta-ji plas-ta ya je-ra-ha

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Plasta" borrowed from English "plaster"

7. Ninahitaji dawa ya kuzuia mbu

   Ni-na-hi-ta-ji da-wa ya ku-zu-i-a mbu

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Mbu" = mosquito in Swahili. Mosquito repellent is vital for malaria prevention in East Africa

8. Ninahitaji krimu ya jua

   Ni-na-hi-ta-ji kri-mu ya ju-a

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Krimu" from English "cream". "Jua" is the native Swahili word for sun

9. Ninatumiaje dawa hii?

   Ni-na-tu-mi-a-je da-wa hi-i?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Ninatumia" (I use) + "-je" (how). In Swahili, "je" often follows the verb to form "how" questions

10. Je, ninahitaji cheti cha daktari?

    Je, ni-na-hi-ta-ji che-ti cha dak-ta-ri?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Cheti" = certificate/document. "Cha daktari" = of the doctor. Together: prescription

11. Duka la dawa

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    The word for a pharmacy when you are looking for one; shopfronts often read English "PHARMACY" or "CHEMIST", and "chemist" is the everyday word in Kenya

    Grammar Note

    "Duka" is a class 5 noun for a shop; the plural is "maduka ya dawa."

12. Cheti cha daktari

    Prescription

    Usage

    The word for a prescription; also called "agizo la daktari" (the doctor's order)

    Grammar Note

    "Cheti" is a class 7 noun for a certificate; the plural is "vyeti."

13. Kipimajoto

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Point to this to buy a thermometer at a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 noun built from "pima" (to measure) and "joto" (heat); the plural is "vipimajoto."

14. Bandeji

    Bandage

    Usage

    A roll of bandage; a sticking plaster is a different item, "plasta"

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 loan from English "bandage", unchanged in the plural; also spelled "bendeji."

15. Dawa ya kuua vijidudu

    Antiseptic / Disinfectant

    Usage

    Ask for this to disinfect a wound; naming the brand "Dettol" usually works just as well

    Grammar Note

    Literally "medicine that kills germs"; "vijidudu" is a class 8 noun for microbes.

16. Barakoa

    Face mask

    Usage

    The word for a hygiene face mask, understood in both Tanzania and Kenya

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural; it originally meant a ceremonial mask and now covers hygiene masks too.

17. Taulo za kike

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    Ask for these at a pharmacy or shop; the English-derived "pedi" (pads) is just as common in speech

    Grammar Note

    The plural of "taulo" (towel) plus "za kike" (of the female kind).

18. Kondomu

    Condom

    Usage

    Sold at pharmacies and general shops; pointing at this word is enough

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 loan from English, unchanged in the plural.

19. Dawa ya macho

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Ask for this for eye drops; also called "matone ya macho" (drops for the eyes)

    Grammar Note

    "Macho" is the irregular plural of "jicho" (eye).

20. Dawa ya kushusha homa

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Ask for this to bring a fever down; the pharmacist will usually hand you "Panadol"

    Grammar Note

    Literally "medicine to bring the fever down"; "homa" is fever, also used of malaria symptoms.

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