German · Apotheke
You ask for advice about a cold: what to say in German
You ask for advice for a cold.
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How it's done. Schnupfen is a runny nose, Husten a cough, Halsschmerzen a sore throat; each has its own remedy: Nasenspray, Hustensaft, Halstabletten.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Ich habe Schnupfen und Husten. Was empfehlen Sie?
Eekh KHAH-beh SHNOOP-fayn oont KHOOS-tayn. Vahs emp-FEH-layn zee?
I have a cold and a cough. What do you recommend?
Or say:Ich habe eine Erkältung. Was kann ich dagegen nehmen?
Eekh KHAH-beh IGH-neh ehr-KEL-toong. Vahs kahn eekh duh-GEH-gayn NEH-mayn?
THEY SAY
Gegen den Schnupfen empfehle ich ein Nasenspray. Für den Husten gibt es Hustensaft.GEH-gayn dayn SHNOOP-fayn emp-FEH-leh eekh ighn NAH-zaynsh-pray. Fyoor dayn KHOOS-tayn geept es KHOOS-tayn-zuhft.
For the runny nose I recommend a nasal spray. For the cough there is cough syrup.
They might also say:
Für die Nase gibt es ein Spray, für den Husten einen Saft.
Fyoor dee NAH-zeh geept es ighn shpray, fyoor dayn KHOOS-tayn IGH-nayn zahft.
For the nose there is a spray, for the cough a syrup.
2
YOU REPLY
Kann ich beides zusammen nehmen?
Kahn eekh BIGH-des tsoo-ZAH-mayn NEH-mayn?
Can I take both together?
THEY SAY
Ja, das geht. Und trinken Sie viel Tee.Yah, dahs get. Oont TREEN-kayn zee feel teh.
Yes, that's fine. And drink plenty of tea.
3
YOU FINISH
Gut, dann nehme ich beides. Danke!
Goot, dahn NEH-meh eekh BIGH-des. DAHN-keh!
Good, then I'll take both. Thanks!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
Schnupfen
SHNOOP-fayn
noun
cold, runny nose
Husten
KHOOS-tayn
noun
cough
empfehlen
emp-FEH-layn
verb
to recommend
empfehle
emp-FEH-leh
verb
I recommend
Nasenspray
NAH-zaynsh-pray
noun
nasal spray
25 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
At the pharmacy you wonder why you have to pay extra on a prescriptionApotheke · A2 in the app
→Your child has a temperature and you ask the pharmacy for something to bring it downApotheke · A2 in the app
→You bring an electronic prescription to the pharmacyApotheke · A1 in the app
→You ask for something for a headacheApotheke · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report