Reading Medicine Instructions | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Reading Medicine Instructions to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich habe dieses Medikament in der Apotheke abgeholt.

ikh HAH-buh DEE-zus meh-dee-kah-MENT een dair ah-poh-TEH-kuh AHP-guh-hohlt. I picked up this medicine at the pharmacy.

Hat der Apotheker die Anweisungen erklärt?

haht dair ah-poh-TEH-kuhr dee AHN-vy-zung-en air-KLAIRT? Did the pharmacist explain the instructions?

Auf dem Etikett steht, dass du es nach dem Essen nehmen sollst.

OUF dame eh-TEE-ket shtayt, dahs doo ess nahkh dame ESS-en NAY-men zollst. The label says to take it after meals.

Dann nimm es nicht vor dem Frühstück.

dahn nim ess nikht fohr dame FRUE-shtuek. Then do not take it before breakfast.

Ich bin mir bei der Dosis nicht sicher.

ikh bin meer bye dair DOH-ziss nikht ZIKH-uh(r). I am not sure about the dose.

Ruf in der Apotheke an, wenn das Etikett unklar ist.

ROOF in dair ah-poh-TEH-kuh ahn, venn dahs eh-TEE-ket oon-KLAHR ist. Call the pharmacy if the label is unclear.

Das ist sicherer, als zu raten.

dahs ist ZIKH-uh-r, ahls tsoo RAH-ten. That is safer than guessing.

Der Apotheker kann dir die richtige Dosis sagen, bevor du es einnimmst.

dair ah-poh-TEH-kuhr kahn deer dee RIKH-tih-guh DOH-ziss ZAH-gen, beh-FOHR doo ess EYN-imst. The pharmacist can tell you the correct dose before you take it.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and refers to the speaker in “Ich habe dieses Medikament in der Apotheke abgeholt.” It is used when the speaker describes their own action, such as picking up medicine.

habe In “Ich habe dieses Medikament in der Apotheke abgeholt”, “habe” helps form the completed action “picked up”; it does not express possession here. This form is used with the completed-action form “abgeholt” to report something the speaker did.

dieses “Dieses” means “this” and points to the specific medicine in “dieses Medikament.” It is useful when identifying one particular object that is present or already understood.

Medikament “Medikament” means “medicine” in “dieses Medikament.” It names the item that was picked up and later referred to as “es” when it is taken.

in In “in der Apotheke”, “in” means “at” or “in” the pharmacy. This phrase identifies the place where the medicine was picked up and can be reused for describing a location.

der “Der” means “the” in “der Apotheker” and “in der Apotheke.” It appears before the words for the pharmacist and the pharmacy in these two location and person expressions.

Apotheke “Apotheke” means “pharmacy” in “in der Apotheke.” The phrase is used for the place where medicine is collected or contacted about an unclear instruction.

abgeholt “Abgeholt” means “picked up” or “collected” in “Ich habe dieses Medikament in der Apotheke abgeholt.” Together with “habe”, it reports that the speaker collected the medicine at the pharmacy.

Hat “Hat” begins the question “Hat der Apotheker die Anweisungen erklärt?” and helps ask whether a completed explanation happened. It is used at the start of a yes-or-no question about what the pharmacist did.

Apotheker “Apotheker” means “pharmacist” in “der Apotheker.” It identifies the person who may explain the instructions or tell someone the correct dose.

die “Die” means “the” in “die Anweisungen.” It introduces the specific instructions that the pharmacist may have explained.

Anweisungen “Anweisungen” means “instructions” in “die Anweisungen.” It refers here to the directions for using the medicine, especially when asking whether they were explained.

erklärt “Erklärt” means “explained” in “Hat der Apotheker die Anweisungen erklärt?” It describes the pharmacist’s completed action of making the instructions clear.

Auf In “Auf dem Etikett”, “Auf” means “on” and identifies the label as the surface containing the information. The full phrase “Auf dem Etikett steht” is used to introduce what is written on a label.

dem “Dem” means “the” in “Auf dem Etikett” and “nach dem Essen.” In both phrases it appears after a preposition and introduces the label or the meal used as a time reference.

Etikett “Etikett” means “label” in “Auf dem Etikett steht.” It refers to the written label that gives the medicine instructions.

steht In “Auf dem Etikett steht”, “steht” means that information is written or stated on the label. This pattern is useful for reporting what a label or written notice says.

dass “Dass” means “that” and introduces the content of the label’s instruction in “dass du es nach dem Essen nehmen sollst.” It connects the statement about the label with the instruction that follows.

du “Du” means “you” and addresses the person who should take the medicine. It is used here because the instruction is directed to the other adult in the conversation.

es “Es” means “it” and refers back to “dieses Medikament.” In “du es nach dem Essen nehmen sollst”, it is the medicine that the person is supposed to take.

nach In “nach dem Essen”, “nach” means “after” and gives the time for taking the medicine. This phrase can be reused to say that an action should happen after a meal or event.

Essen “Essen” means “the meal” or “eating” in “nach dem Essen.” It marks the point after which the medicine should be taken.

nehmen “Nehmen” means “take” in “du es nach dem Essen nehmen sollst.” It names the action of taking the medicine and is used here as part of an instruction.

sollst “Sollst” means “should” or “are supposed to” in “du es nach dem Essen nehmen sollst.” It presents the label’s direction as an instruction for the person addressed.

Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann nimm es nicht vor dem Frühstück.” It connects the advice to the previous instruction and introduces the resulting action.

nimm “Nimm” is a direct instruction meaning “take” in “nimm es nicht vor dem Frühstück.” Together with “nicht”, it tells the listener not to take the medicine at the stated time.

nicht “Nicht” means “not” and negates the action in “nimm es nicht vor dem Frühstück.” It is used here to prohibit taking the medicine before breakfast.

vor In “vor dem Frühstück”, “vor” means “before” and specifies a time that should be avoided. This phrase is useful for saying that an action must not happen before a particular meal or event.

Frühstück “Frühstück” means “breakfast” in “vor dem Frühstück.” It identifies the meal before which the medicine should not be taken.

bin “Bin” means “am” in “Ich bin mir bei der Dosis nicht sicher.” In this expression it helps describe the speaker’s state of uncertainty about the dose.

mir “Mir” means “to me” or “for me” in “Ich bin mir bei der Dosis nicht sicher.” It identifies the speaker as the person who is not sure about the dose.

bei In “bei der Dosis”, “bei” frames what the uncertainty concerns, giving the meaning “about the dose.” It is used here to connect the state of being unsure with the specific matter in question.

Dosis “Dosis” means “dose” in “bei der Dosis” and “die richtige Dosis.” It refers to the amount of medicine that needs to be confirmed with the pharmacist.

sicher “Sicher” means “sure” in “Ich bin mir bei der Dosis nicht sicher.” With “nicht”, it expresses uncertainty about the dose.

Ruf “Ruf” begins the direct instruction “Ruf in der Apotheke an”, meaning “call the pharmacy.” It is used when telling someone to contact the pharmacy directly.

an In “Ruf in der Apotheke an”, “an” completes the call expression and shows that the instruction is to phone or contact the pharmacy. It belongs with “Ruf” in this direct instruction.

wenn “Wenn” means “if” in “wenn das Etikett unklar ist.” It introduces the condition under which the listener should call the pharmacy.

das “Das” means “the” in “das Etikett”, while the capitalized “Das” in “Das ist sicherer” means “that” and refers to calling the pharmacy. These forms identify either the label or the action just discussed.

unklar “Unklar” means “unclear” in “wenn das Etikett unklar ist.” It describes a label whose instructions are not understandable enough to follow confidently.

ist “Ist” means “is” in “wenn das Etikett unklar ist” and “Das ist sicherer.” It links the label with its condition and the recommended action with its comparison.

sicherer “Sicherer” means “safer” in “Das ist sicherer, als zu raten.” It compares calling the pharmacy with guessing about the dose.

als “Als” means “than” in the comparison “sicherer, als zu raten.” It introduces the action that is being compared with the safer choice.

zu “Zu” marks the infinitive in “zu raten”, which means “to guess” in this comparison. The phrase is used after “als” to name the alternative being judged less safe.

raten “Raten” means “guess” in “Das ist sicherer, als zu raten.” It describes choosing an uncertain dose without first checking the instructions.

kann “Kann” means “can” in “Der Apotheker kann dir die richtige Dosis sagen.” It expresses the pharmacist’s ability to provide the needed information.

dir “Dir” means “to you” in “kann dir die richtige Dosis sagen.” It identifies the person who will receive the pharmacist’s information.

richtige “Richtige” means “correct” or “right” in “die richtige Dosis.” It specifies that the pharmacist can identify the dose that should actually be used.

sagen “Sagen” means “tell” or “say” in “dir die richtige Dosis sagen.” With “dir” and “die richtige Dosis”, it describes giving someone the correct dose information.

bevor “Bevor” means “before” in “bevor du es einnimmst.” It introduces the action that should happen before the medicine is taken.

einnimmst “Einnimmst” means “take it” in “bevor du es einnimmst”, referring to taking the medicine. The phrase is used to emphasize that the correct dose should be confirmed before taking it.

Grammar Points

sollen + Infinitiv

Du sollst dieses Medikament nehmen.

DOO ZOLLST DEE-zus meh-dee-kah-MENT NAY-men.

You should take this medicine.

The modal verb sollst comes before the subject's action, while the main verb stays in the infinitive at the end.

Separable verb: anrufen

Ruf ... an.

ROOF ... AHN.

Call ...

In a command, the prefix an moves to the end: Ruf ... an.

German Vocabulary

abholen verb

AHP-hoh-len to pick up abgeholt

Anweisung noun

AHN-vy-zung instruction die Anweisungen

Apotheke noun

ah-poh-TEH-kuh pharmacy der Apotheke

Apotheker noun

ah-poh-TEH-kuhr pharmacist der Apotheker

erklären verb

air-KLAIR-en to explain erklärt

Essen noun

ESS-en meal; food dem Essen

Etikett noun

eh-TEE-ket label dem Etikett

Frühstück noun

FRUE-shtuek breakfast dem Frühstück

Medikament noun

meh-dee-kah-MENT medicine dieses Medikament

nehmen verb

NAY-men to take

sollen verb

ZOLL-en should; be supposed to sollst

stehen verb

SHTAY-en to say; to stand steht

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Did the pharmacist explain the instructions?

Show Answer

Hat der Apotheker die Anweisungen erklärt?

That is safer than guessing.

Show Answer

Das ist sicherer, als zu raten.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to take

Show Answer

nehmen

to explain

Show Answer

erklärt

to pick up

Show Answer

abgeholt

to say; to stand

Show Answer

steht