German · Apotheke
At the pharmacy you wonder why you have to pay extra on a prescription: what to say in German
At the pharmacy you wonder why you have to pay extra with a prescription.
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How it's done. You pay a Zuzahlung (ten percent of the price, between five and ten euros); children under eighteen do not pay; for high medicine costs there is a limit (Belastungsgrenze) and your fund can give you an exemption.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
Entschuldigung, warum muss ich etwas dazuzahlen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vuh-ROOM moos eekh EH-tvuhs duh-TSOO-tsuh-layn?
Excuse me, why do I have to pay something extra?
Or say:Entschuldigung, ich habe ein Rezept. Warum kostet das Medikament Geld?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh KHAH-beh ighn reh-TSEPT. Vuh-ROOM KOS-tet dahs meh-dee-kuh-MAYNT gelt?
THEY SAY
Das ist die gesetzliche Zuzahlung. Sie beträgt zehn Prozent, mindestens fünf und höchstens zehn Euro.Dahs eest dee geh-ZETS-lee-kheh TSOO-tsuh-loong. Zee beh-TREKT tsayn proh-TSAYNT, MEEN-des-tayns fyoonf oont KHYOKS-tayns tsayn OY-roh.
That is the statutory co-payment. It is ten percent, at least five and at most ten euros.
They might also say:
Bei Rezepten zahlen Sie einen kleinen Teil selbst. Das ist normal.
Bigh reh-TSEP-tayn TSAH-layn zee IGH-nayn KLIGH-nayn tighl zelpst. Dahs eest nor-MAHL.
With prescriptions you pay a small part yourself. That is normal.
2
YOU REPLY
Gilt das für alle Medikamente?
Geelt dahs fyoor AH-leh meh-dee-kuh-MAYN-teh?
Does that apply to all medicines?
THEY SAY
Für die meisten. Kinder und Jugendliche sind befreit.Fyoor dee MIGHS-tayn. KEEN-duh oont YOO-gayn-dlee-kheh zeent beh-FRIGHT.
For most. Children and teenagers are exempt.
3
YOU REPLY
Und wenn ich viele Medikamente brauche?
Oont vayn eekh FEE-leh meh-dee-kuh-MAYN-teh BROW-kheh?
And if I need a lot of medicines?
THEY SAY
Dann gibt es eine Belastungsgrenze. Fragen Sie Ihre Krankenkasse nach einem Befreiungsausweis.Dahn geept es IGH-neh beh-LAHS-toongs-grayn-tseh. FRAH-gayn zee EE-reh KRAHN-kayn-kuh-seh nahkh IGH-nem beh-FRIGH-oong-sow-svighs.
Then there is a financial limit. Ask your health insurance fund for an exemption card.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke für die Erklärung!
DAHN-keh fyoor dee ehr-KLEH-roong!
Thanks for the explanation!
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
warum
vuh-ROOM
adverb
why
muss
moos
verb
must, has to
dazuzahlen
duh-TSOO-tsuh-layn
verb
to pay extra
ist
eest
verb
is
gesetzliche
geh-ZETS-lee-kheh
adjective
statutory
Zuzahlung
TSOO-tsuh-loong
noun
co-payment
39 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
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
→The pharmacist explains how to take the medicineApotheke · 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