B2CEFRVocabulary20 min

Pharmacies and Everyday Medicines

Pharmacies and everyday medicines

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20 Mins • B2 Level Vocabulary & Pronunciation

Pharmacies and Everyday Medicines 💊

Learn essential pharmacy words, practice using them in context, and perfect your pronunciation.

📋 How to use this lesson

👩‍🏫 Teacher Note

Guide students through the word table first, then set 10 minutes for the practice exercises. Check answers together by having students read whole sentences aloud.

🧑‍🎓 Learner Note

Read the word meanings and memory tips carefully before starting. Complete the 16 practice questions and finish by recording your voice in the shadowing section.

Word Table

Study these 10 everyday pharmacy words and their simple memory tips.

Pattern Example: The pharmacist told me to take this medicine three times daily.

1. What you buy

Word Meaning Collocations Forms Example Memory Tip
ointment A thick smooth cream for skin healing apply ointment, soothing ointment – Apply the ointment to your dry skin twice a day. Think of "oil" put on a painful point.
capsule A small soluble case with medicine inside swallow a capsule, daily capsule – Take one red capsule every morning after breakfast. Sounds like a little "cap" holding medicine.
lozenge A small medicinal sweet dissolved in mouth throat lozenge, suck a lozenge – Suck a throat lozenge to quiet your cough. Picture a drop that calms your cough.
painkiller A medicine that reduces or stops pain take a painkiller, strong painkiller – She took a painkiller for her headache. Pain + killer (it kills the pain!).

2. Taking it

Word Meaning Collocations Forms Example Memory Tip
prescription Doctor's official written note for medicine doctor's prescription, fill a prescription prescribe (v) Hand your prescription to the chemist. Pre (before) + script (write).
refill An extra supply of a prescribed medicine request a refill, monthly refill – Call the pharmacy if you need a refill. Re (again) + fill (fill up container).
drowsy Feeling sleepy or making you feel sleepy feel drowsy, drowsy effect drowsiness (n) This cough syrup might make you feel drowsy. Think of heavy eyes slowly closing.

3. The shop

Word Meaning Collocations Forms Example Memory Tip
chemist A shop selling medicine, or a pharmacist local chemist, visit the chemist – The chemist explained how to take the medicine. Works with chemicals in a pharmacy shop.
dispense To prepare and hand out medication dispense medicine, dispense pills dispenser (n) The chemist will dispense your pills in five minutes. Think of a dispenser giving out one thing at a time.
expiry The end of the time something can be used expiry date, check expiry expire (v) Always check the expiry date on medicine bottles. "Ex" = out. The time runs out.

Practice

Complete these 16 exercises from easy to hard.

Part 1

Collocation Matrix

Match each verb on the left with its correct noun phrase.

1. Match verb: take

Verb
expiry date
a refill
ointment
painkillers
take
____expiry date ____a refill ____ointment ____painkillers

2. Match verb: apply

apply
____expiry date ____a refill ____ointment ____painkillers

3. Match verb: check

check
____expiry date ____a refill ____ointment ____painkillers

4. Match verb: request

request
____expiry date ____a refill ____ointment ____painkillers
Part 2

Gap-Fill with Word Bank

Use words from the box below to complete the sentences.

drowsy chemist ointment lozenge

5. I went to the local ____ to get my prescription filled.

6. Suck on this throat ____ to soothe your bad cough.

7. Put this soothing skin ____ on your red dry skin.

8. Do not drive a car because this syrup makes you feel ____ .

Part 3

Choose the Word

Select the option that best fits the sentence meaning.

9. I need to ask the pharmacy for a _____ of my daily pills.

____ a. lozenge ____ b. refill ____ c. chemist

10. If your throat hurts, suck on a throat _____.

____ a. lozenge ____ b. refill ____ c. expiry

11. You cannot buy these strong antibiotics without a doctor's _____.

____ a. dispense ____ b. prescription ____ c. drowsiness

12. The local _____ advised me on which cough medicine to choose.

____ a. chemist ____ b. ointment ____ c. capsule
Part 4

Word-Formation

Change the word in brackets to its correct derivative form.

13. The doctor will ____ (prescription) the correct pills for your symptoms.

14. This strong syrup can cause extreme daytime ____ (drowsy).

15. The automatic pill ____ (dispense) releases tablets at regular times.

16. Check the date on the box to see when the medicine will ____ (expiry).

Shadowing Studio

Listen, repeat aloud, and record your pronunciation (12 short audio items).

🎙️ Voice Practice
Collocation 1/4 3 words
take a painkiller

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Collocation 2/4 4 words
check the expiry date

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Collocation 3/4 3 words
feel very drowsy

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Collocation 4/4 3 words
dispense the medicine

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Short Sentence 1/4 6 words
Show your prescription to the chemist.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Short Sentence 2/4 6 words
This lozenge calms a sore throat.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Short Sentence 3/4 6 words
Apply the ointment to your skin.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Short Sentence 4/4 7 words
Can I get a refill for this?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Everyday Practice 1/2 8 words
You should not drive if you feel drowsy.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Everyday Practice 2/2 7 words
The pharmacist will dispense your capsule shortly.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Focus Word: Prescription 7 words
Please bring your prescription to the pharmacy.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____
Focus Word: Drowsy 7 words
This painkiller makes me feel slightly drowsy.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

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