Picture scene

French pharmacy vocabulary: explore first-aid products and counters

Find twelve first-aid products and pharmacy fittings in French, then practise collecting an order and asking for supplies at the counter.

In short

Ask for une boîte de pansements (a box of plasters) or des compresses stériles (sterile gauze pads), then collect your order au comptoir (at the counter). Explore twelve visible targets, from the first-aid shelf to the payment terminal.

A pharmacy counter with plain unmarked plaster box, rolled bandage, gauze pads and rounded-tip scissors; no thermometer display or packaging labels.
Ask for une boîte de pansements at the pharmacy. Illustration: Atelier

Inside the pharmacy: find the supplies and the counter

Wide cutaway of a bright neighbourhood pharmacy seen from the customer side. An open first-aid shelf holds a box of adhesive plasters, a sealed packet of gauze
Ask for the product and its packaging
French requestEnglish
Une boîte de pansements, s’il vous plaît.A box of plasters, please.
Vous avez des compresses stériles ?Do you have sterile gauze pads?
Je viens chercher ma commande.I’ve come to collect my order.
Je peux payer par carte ?Can I pay by card?

Une commande à récupérer

Nina entre dans la pharmacie avec son frère. Elle prend un numéro au distributeur de tickets1, puis attend près de la vitrine. Quand c’est son tour, elle va au comptoir. « Bonjour, je viens chercher ma commande2 au nom de Morel. » La pharmacienne apporte un petit sac. Nina vérifie la boîte de pansements et les compresses stériles. Elle demande aussi un thermomètre. La pharmacienne le montre sur l’étagère, à côté de la poche de froid. Nina paie par carte et range le ticket de caisse3 dans son sac.

Read it in English

Nina enters the pharmacy with her brother. She takes a number from the queue-ticket dispenser, then waits near the glass cabinet. When it is her turn, she goes to the counter. “Hello, I’ve come to collect my order under the name Morel.” The pharmacist brings a small bag. Nina checks the box of plasters and the sterile gauze pads. She also asks for a thermometer. The pharmacist points it out on the shelf, next to the cold pack. Nina pays by card and puts the receipt in her bag.

Question 1No account needed
Which product is being requested?Je voudrais une boîte de pansements.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la boîte de pansements. The request names une boîte de pansements: the box containing adhesive plasters.

Question 2No account needed
Find the sealed packet.Vous pouvez me montrer les compresses stériles ?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

les compresses stériles. Les compresses stériles are the square gauze pads in a sealed packet.

Question 3No account needed
Where should you go to collect the bag?Votre commande vous attend au comptoir.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le comptoir. Au comptoir identifies the service counter where the pharmacist hands over the order.

Question 4No account needed
Find the narrow roll.Je cherche un rouleau de sparadrap.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le sparadrap. Le sparadrap is adhesive tape; the wider fabric roll is la bande.

Question 5No account needed
What should you use now?Vous pouvez insérer votre carte ici.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le terminal de paiement. A bank card goes into le terminal de paiement, the card reader beside the counter.