Pharmacy & Health

1. Ṣé o ní òògùn orí fún mi?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Nigeria/Benin

   Grammar Note

   Yoruba is a Niger-Congo tonal language. "Ṣé" is the question marker. "Òògùn orí" = "head's medicine"

2. Mo nílò òògùn ikùn

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   In Yoruba, tones are crucial for meaning. "Ikùn" (stomach) has mid-low tones

3. Mo nílò òògùn ìgbẹ́ gbuuru

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Ìgbẹ́ gbuuru" is the Yoruba term for diarrhea. "Ìgbẹ́" means "stool"; without the tone marks and the dotted ẹ it is spelled like the word for "bush", so keep them

4. Mo ní ibà

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Ibà" is the native Yoruba word for fever. The falling tones (mid-low) are significant

5. Mo ní àlẹ́ẹ̀jì

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Àlẹ́ẹ̀jì" is the Yoruba adaptation of English "allergy", incorporating tonal markings

6. Mo nílò bàndéèjì

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Bàndéèjì" is the Yoruba adaptation of English "bandage"

7. Mo nílò òògùn ẹ̀fọ́n

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Òògùn ẹ̀fọ́n" (mosquito medicine) is the Yoruba phrase for insect repellent

8. Mo nílò ìdáàbòbò ìmọ́lẹ̀ oòrùn

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Ìdáàbòbò ìmọ́lẹ̀ oòrùn" means "protection from sunlight" = sunscreen

9. Báwo ni mo ṣe máa ń mu òògùn yìí?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Báwo ni" is the Yoruba question phrase for "how". "Mu" (drink) is also used for taking medicine

10. Ṣé mo nílò ìwé òògùn?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Ìwé òògùn" (medicine paper) is the Yoruba way to say prescription. "Mo nílò" means "I need"

11. Ìwé òògùn

    Prescription

    Usage

    Ask whether one is needed, or show the one you already have

12. Òògùn ìrora

    Painkiller

    Usage

    Ask for pain medicine at a pharmacy

13. Òògùn ibà

    Fever medicine

    Usage

    Ask for something to bring a fever down; paracetamol is the common one locally

14. Òògùn ojú

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Ask for eye medicine

15. Ìbòjú

    Face mask

    Usage

    When buying a face mask; literally "face covering"

16. Mo nílò òògùn fún àìrígbẹ̀ẹ́yà

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Ask for a laxative at a pharmacy; literally "I need medicine for constipation"

    Grammar Note

    Mo nílò òògùn (I need medicine) takes fún ("for") to add the purpose.

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