Clarifying medicine instructions safely | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: At home, two adults prepare questions for a pharmacist about a medicine label, food cautions, side effects, and warning signs..

EN → DE / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Clarifying medicine instructions safely to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich dieses Medikamentenetikett verstehe.

ikh bin meer nikht ZIKH-er, op ikh DEH-dee-ses meh-dee-kah-MENT-en-eh-tee-KET fer-SHTEH-uh. I am not sure I understand this medicine label.
B

Ruf den Apotheker an, bevor du die nächste Dosis nimmst.

roof dayn ah-poh-TAY-ker ahn, beh-FOHR doo dee NEKH-steh DOH-zis neemst. Call the pharmacist before you take the next dose.
A

Ich möchte auch fragen, ob ich bestimmte Lebensmittel vermeiden sollte.

ikh MURKH-tuh owkh FRAH-gen, op ikh beh-STIM-tuh LAY-bens-mit-tel fer-MY-den ZOL-tuh. I also want to ask whether I should avoid certain foods.
B

Das sollte man überprüfen, besonders wenn auf dem Etikett Mahlzeiten erwähnt werden.

dahs ZOL-tuh mahn oo-ber-PROO-fen, beh-ZON-ders ven owf daym eh-tee-KET MAHL-tsy-ten eh-VAINT VAIR-den. That is worth checking, especially if the label mentions meals.
A

Nach der Einnahme hatte ich leichte Kopfschmerzen.

nahkh dair EYN-nah-muh HAT-tuh ikh LYKH-tuh KOPF-shmair-tsen. I had a mild headache after taking it.
A

Also sollte ich das ansprechen.

AHL-zoh ZOL-tuh ikh dahs AHN-shpreh-khen. So I should bring that up.
B

Frag, ob das eine Nebenwirkung sein könnte und auf welche Warnzeichen du achten solltest.

frahk, op dahs EYE-nuh NAY-ben-VEER-koong zyn KURN-tuh oont owf VEL-khuh VAHRN-tsy-khen doo AKH-ten ZOL-test. Ask whether it could be a side effect and what warning signs to watch for.
A

Raten fühlt sich riskant an, besonders bei Medikamenten.

RAH-ten fyoolt zikh ris-KAHNT ahn, beh-ZON-ders by meh-dee-kah-MEN-ten. Guessing feels risky, especially with medicine.
B

Eine Fachkraft kann die Risiken klarer erklären.

EYE-nuh FAKH-krahft kahn dee REE-zee-ken KLAHR-er air-KLAIR-en. A professional can explain the risks more clearly.
A

Ich kann die Fragen vor dem Anruf aufschreiben.

ikh kahn dee FRAH-gen fohr daym AHN-roof OWF-shry-ben. I can write down the questions before calling.
B

Das sollte es leichter machen, dem Gespräch zu folgen.

dahs ZOL-tuh ess LYKH-ter MAKH-en, daym guh-SHPRAYKH tsoo FOHL-gen. That should make the call easier to follow.

Word by Word

Ich Ich means “I” and is the speaker who is unsure about understanding the label. It is used as the subject in “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”.
bin bin means “am” and states the speaker’s current situation in “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”. A useful pattern is “Ich bin ...” when describing your own state.
mir mir means “to me” in the expression “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”, marking the person whose certainty is involved. Reuse the pattern “Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ...” when you are uncertain about something.
nicht nicht negates the speaker’s certainty in “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”. It is placed before the adjective sicher in this expression.
sicher sicher means “sure” here, describing certainty about understanding the label. Together with “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”, it is useful for politely expressing uncertainty.
ob ob introduces the question of whether the speaker understands the label in “ob ich dieses Medikamentenetikett verstehe”. It introduces a subordinate clause, with the conjugated verb at the end.
dieses dieses means “this” and points to the specific medicine label in “dieses Medikamentenetikett”. It is useful when identifying one particular thing nearby or already being discussed.
Medikamentenetikett Medikamentenetikett means “medicine label”, the label whose instructions the speaker is trying to understand. It names the written information being checked before asking the pharmacist.
verstehe verstehe means “understand” in “ob ich dieses Medikamentenetikett verstehe”. It expresses the speaker’s own understanding and appears at the end of this subordinate clause.
Ruf Ruf means “call” as the informal singular command in “Ruf den Apotheker an”. The separable verb uses the pattern “Ruf ... an” when telling one person to make a call.
den den means “the” and accompanies Apotheker as the person being called in “Ruf den Apotheker an”. It helps identify the specific pharmacist meant in this instruction.
Apotheker Apotheker means “pharmacist”, the professional whom the speaker should call before taking the next dose. It is the person receiving the call in “Ruf den Apotheker an”.
an an is the separable part of the verb in “Ruf den Apotheker an”, giving the command the meaning “call”. It appears at the end of the main clause in this command.
bevor bevor means “before” and introduces the time condition in “bevor du die nächste Dosis nimmst”. It is useful for saying that one action should happen before another.
du du means “you” and addresses the person who is going to take the dose. It is the subject of “du die nächste Dosis nimmst”.
die die means “the” and identifies the specific dose in “die nächste Dosis”. It accompanies Dosis as part of the noun phrase about the next medication intake.
nächste nächste means “next” and identifies the dose that comes after the current one. It modifies Dosis in “die nächste Dosis”.
Dosis Dosis means “dose”, the amount of medicine to be taken next. It appears in the practical phrase “die nächste Dosis” when discussing medication timing.
nimmst nimmst means “take” in “du die nächste Dosis nimmst”. It describes what the person will do with the dose and comes at the end of the bevor-clause.
möchte möchte expresses the speaker’s wish in “Ich möchte auch fragen”, meaning “I would like to ask”. It is a polite way to introduce a question or intended action.
auch auch means “also” and adds another question to the earlier concern about the label. It is placed before the infinitive fragen in “Ich möchte auch fragen”.
fragen fragen means “ask” in “Ich möchte auch fragen”. It is used after möchte to state the question the speaker wants to raise with the pharmacist.
bestimmte bestimmte means “certain” or “specific” and limits the foods the speaker may need to avoid. It modifies Lebensmittel in “bestimmte Lebensmittel”.
Lebensmittel Lebensmittel means “foods” in the question about possible food restrictions. It is the object of vermeiden in “bestimmte Lebensmittel vermeiden”.
vermeiden vermeiden means “avoid” in “bestimmte Lebensmittel vermeiden”. It describes not eating certain foods and is used as an infinitive after sollte.
sollte sollte expresses what the speaker should do in “ob ich bestimmte Lebensmittel vermeiden sollte”. It presents avoiding certain foods as something to clarify or consider.
Das Das means “that” in “Das sollte man überprüfen” and points to the medicine-related question just mentioned. The same form also begins “Das sollte es leichter machen”, where it refers to writing down the questions.
man man means “one” or “people in general” in “Das sollte man überprüfen”. It gives the advice a general subject instead of addressing one named person.
überprüfen überprüfen means “check” in “Das sollte man überprüfen”. It is used after sollte to describe the recommended action.
besonders besonders means “especially” and emphasizes the importance of checking the instructions when meals are mentioned. It highlights one condition as particularly relevant.
wenn wenn means “if” in “wenn auf dem Etikett Mahlzeiten erwähnt werden”. It introduces the condition under which checking is especially important.
auf auf means “on” in “auf dem Etikett”, locating the mention of meals on the label. The phrase “auf dem Etikett” is a useful way to refer to information printed on a label.
dem dem means “the” in “auf dem Etikett” and accompanies the label being referred to. It forms part of the fixed location phrase about information appearing on the label.
Etikett Etikett means “label”, specifically the medicine label containing information about meals. It appears in “auf dem Etikett” when locating written instructions.
Mahlzeiten Mahlzeiten means “meals” in the statement about what the label may mention. It identifies the meal-related information that should be checked.
erwähnt erwähnt means “mentioned” in “Mahlzeiten erwähnt werden”. It describes meals as information included on the label.
werden werden helps form the passive statement “Mahlzeiten erwähnt werden”, meaning that meals are mentioned. It appears at the end of the subordinate clause.
Nach Nach means “after” and places the headache after the medication was taken in “Nach der Einnahme”. It is useful for describing when something happens in relation to an earlier action.
der der means “the” in “Nach der Einnahme” and accompanies the noun for taking the medicine. It is part of the time expression describing what happened afterward.
Einnahme Einnahme means “taking” or “intake” of the medicine in “Nach der Einnahme”. The phrase is used to connect a later symptom with taking medication.
hatte hatte means “had” and reports the headache as something the speaker experienced after taking the medicine. It is used with a symptom in “hatte ich leichte Kopfschmerzen”.
leichte leichte means “mild” or “slight” and describes the intensity of the headache. It modifies Kopfschmerzen in “leichte Kopfschmerzen”.
Kopfschmerzen Kopfschmerzen means “headache” or “headaches” and names the symptom experienced after taking the medicine. It is used with hatte to report a physical symptom.
Also Also means “so” and connects the reported headache with the conclusion that it should be mentioned. It introduces a result or practical next step.
Frag Frag means “ask” as an informal singular command in “Frag, ob das eine Nebenwirkung sein könnte”. It is used to tell one person to ask for professional clarification.
eine eine means “a” in “eine Nebenwirkung” and introduces one possible side effect. It accompanies Nebenwirkung as an indefinite noun phrase.
Nebenwirkung Nebenwirkung means “side effect”, the possible explanation for the headache. It appears in the question “ob das eine Nebenwirkung sein könnte”.
sein sein means “be” in “eine Nebenwirkung sein könnte”. It completes the possibility expressed by könnte and identifies what the symptom might be.
könnte könnte means “could” or “might” and presents a side effect as a possibility rather than a fact. It is used with sein in “eine Nebenwirkung sein könnte”.
und und means “and” and joins the question about a possible side effect with the question about warning signs. It connects two related requests in the same instruction.
welche welche means “which” and asks the listener to identify the relevant warning signs in “auf welche Warnzeichen du achten solltest”. It specifies the signs that need attention.
Warnzeichen Warnzeichen means “warning signs”, the symptoms or developments the person should watch for. It is used with achten in “auf welche Warnzeichen du achten solltest”.
achten achten means “pay attention” or “watch” in “auf welche Warnzeichen du achten solltest”. It is used with auf when identifying what someone should monitor.
solltest solltest expresses what the person should watch for in “du achten solltest”. It gives advice to the person being addressed and appears at the end of the subordinate clause.
Raten Raten means “guessing” in “Raten fühlt sich riskant an”. It names the act of guessing as the subject of the statement about medicine.
fühlt fühlt means “feels” in the expression “fühlt sich riskant an”. Together with sich and an, it describes how guessing seems to the speaker.
sich sich is the reflexive pronoun in “fühlt sich riskant an”, linking the feeling back to the subject Raten. It is part of the expression used to say that something feels a certain way.
riskant riskant means “risky” and describes guessing about medicine in “fühlt sich riskant an”. It is useful for expressing concern about an action or approach.
bei bei means “when dealing with” in “bei Medikamenten”. It places the concern in the context of medicines rather than ordinary everyday decisions.
Medikamenten Medikamenten means “medicines” or “medications” in “besonders bei Medikamenten”. It identifies the area in which guessing may be unsafe.
Fachkraft Fachkraft means “professional” or “qualified specialist” who can explain the risks. In this context, it refers to someone with relevant expertise about the medicine.
kann kann means “can” and expresses the professional’s ability to explain the risks. It is used with the infinitive erklären in “kann die Risiken klarer erklären”.
Risiken Risiken means “risks”, the possible dangers that the professional can explain. It is the object of erklären in the statement about clearer information.
klarer klarer means “more clearly” and describes the professional’s explanation of the risks. It compares this explanation with the less certain understanding produced by guessing.
erklären erklären means “explain” in “kann die Risiken klarer erklären”. It is the infinitive used after kann to describe what the professional is able to do.
vor vor means “before” in “vor dem Anruf”. It places the writing of the questions before the phone call.
Anruf Anruf means “call”, referring to the planned call to the pharmacist. It appears in the time expression “vor dem Anruf”.
aufschreiben aufschreiben means “write down” in “die Fragen vor dem Anruf aufschreiben”. It describes recording the questions in writing before making the call.
es es means “it” in “Das sollte es leichter machen” and refers to writing down the questions as the action that will help. It is used with leichter machen to describe the result of that action.
leichter leichter means “easier” and describes the expected effect of writing down the questions. It appears in “es leichter machen” before the purpose expressed by folgen.
machen machen means “make” in “Das sollte es leichter machen”. It describes causing the conversation to be easier to follow and is used as an infinitive after sollte.
Gespräch Gespräch means “conversation” or “call” in “dem Gespräch zu folgen”. It refers to the discussion with the pharmacist that the listener needs to follow.
zu zu marks the infinitive in “dem Gespräch zu folgen”. It links the action of following the conversation to the phrase describing what becomes easier.
folgen folgen means “follow” in “dem Gespräch zu folgen”, meaning to keep up with or understand the conversation. The pattern with a dative object is used here to say what conversation someone follows.

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben: anrufen → Ruf ... an

Ruf den Apotheker an.

roof dayn ah-poh-TAY-ker ahn.

Call the pharmacist.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht der Präfix im Hauptsatz am Satzende: anrufen wird zu Ruf ... an.

German Vocabulary

anrufen verb
AHN-roo-fen to call Ruf ... an
Apotheker noun
ah-poh-TAY-ker pharmacist
Dosis noun
DOH-zis dose
Einnahme noun
EYN-nah-muh taking a medicine
Lebensmittel noun
LAY-bens-mit-tel food
leicht adj
LYKHT mild leichte
Mahlzeit noun
MAHL-tsyte meal Mahlzeiten
Medikamentenetikett noun
meh-dee-kah-MENT-en-eh-tee-KET medicine label
nehmen verb
NAY-men to take nimmst
überprüfen verb
oo-ber-PROO-fen to check
vermeiden verb
fer-MY-den to avoid
verstehen verb
fer-SHTEH-en to understand verstehe

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

So I should bring that up.

Show AnswerAlso sollte ich das ansprechen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

food

Show AnswerLebensmittel

to avoid

Show Answervermeiden

to take

Show Answernimmst

to check

Show Answerüberprüfen