How to Say 'Where Is the Nearest Pharmacy?' in Italian
Learn to ask for the nearest pharmacy in Italian, understand opening hours, and handle a simple exchange at the counter using polite standard phrases.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need medicine in Italy, the key question is: Dov'è la farmacia più vicina? In this lesson you will learn to ask where the nearest pharmacy is, find out whether it is open, and understand the reply about opening hours. You will also learn the difference between a normal pharmacy and a pharmacy open at night, and how to ask politely for help. All phrases are standard Italian; regional notes are given where usage differs.
By the end, you can…
- ask where the nearest pharmacy is in Italian
- ask whether a pharmacy is open and understand simple opening hours
- ask politely for help at the pharmacy counter
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Dov'è la farmacia più vicina?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
doh-VEH lah far-mah-CHEE-ah pyoo vee-CHEE-nah
Standard polite question. Dov'è is the common contraction of dove è. Use it with anyone, in any region.
C'è una farmacia qui vicino?
Is there a pharmacy near here?
cheh OO-nah far-mah-CHEE-ah kwee vee-CHEE-noh
Softer and very common when you are not sure one exists nearby. C'è means 'there is'.
A che ora apre?
What time does it open?
ah keh OH-rah AH-preh
Use apre for a shop or pharmacy. For closing time, ask: A che ora chiude?
È aperta adesso?
Is it open now?
eh ah-PEHR-tah ah-DEHS-soh
Aperta is feminine because farmacia is feminine. If you are asking about a masculine noun, use aperto.
La farmacia di turno, per favore.
The duty pharmacy, please.
lah far-mah-CHEE-ah dee TOOR-noh pehr fah-VOH-reh
In Italy, pharmacies take turns staying open at night and on holidays. This phrase asks for the one currently on duty.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is Dov'è + place + più vicina? For example: Dov'è la farmacia più vicina? Dov'è la stazione più vicina? The word vicina agrees with the feminine noun it describes: la farmacia più vicina, but il supermercato più vicino. To ask about opening hours, use A che ora apre? and A che ora chiude? For a simple yes/no question, use È aperta? or È aperto?
When to use it
Use Dov'è la farmacia più vicina? when you need directions. Use C'è una farmacia qui vicino? when you are not sure there is one nearby. If you need medicine late at night, ask for la farmacia di turno, because not every pharmacy stays open. At the counter, say Buongiorno or Buonasera first, then state your need simply, for example: Ho bisogno di qualcosa per il mal di testa.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, scusi. Dov'è la farmacia più vicina?
Good morning, excuse me. Where is the nearest pharmacy?bwohn-JOHR-noh SKOO-zee doh-VEH lah far-mah-CHEE-ah pyoo vee-CHEE-nahÈ in via Roma, a due minuti a piedi.
It's on Via Roma, a two-minute walk away.eh een VEE-ah ROH-mah ah DOO-eh mee-NOO-tee ah PYEH-deeGrazie. È aperta adesso?
Thank you. Is it open now?GRAH-tsee-eh eh ah-PEHR-tah ah-DEHS-sohSì, apre alle otto e chiude alle diciannove e trenta.
Yes, it opens at eight and closes at seven thirty in the evening.see AH-preh AHL-leh OHT-toh eh KYOO-deh AHL-leh dee-chahn-NOH-veh eh trehn-TAHA little context goes a long way
In Italy, pharmacies are usually marked by a green cross and are often called simply la farmacia. Opening hours vary: many close for lunch, and some close on Sundays. To find one open at night or on a holiday, ask for la farmacia di turno. In cities, farmacie are common, but in small towns there may be only one. Using scusi at the start and grazie at the end is standard polite behavior.
One thing to watch for
Saying Dov'è farmacia? without the article, or using la farmacia più vicino with the wrong ending.
Try this instead: Italian normally needs the article: Dov'è la farmacia più vicina? The adjective vicina agrees with the feminine noun farmacia. For a masculine noun, say il supermercato più vicino.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Where is the nearest pharmacy?' in standard Italian?
Show a sample answer
Dov'è la farmacia più vicina?
This uses Dov'è + la farmacia + più vicina. The adjective agrees with the feminine noun. C'è una farmacia qui vicino? is also correct when you are asking whether one exists nearby.
2You need a pharmacy late at night. What phrase should you use?
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La farmacia di turno, per favore.
This asks for the pharmacy currently on duty, which stays open at night or on holidays. You can also ask: C'è una farmacia di turno qui vicino?
3How do you ask what time a pharmacy opens?
Show a sample answer
A che ora apre?
Apre means 'it opens' and works for shops and pharmacies. To ask about closing time, say A che ora chiude? Both are standard and polite.
Remember the key question Dov'è la farmacia più vicina? and the follow-up È aperta adesso? For late-night needs, ask for la farmacia di turno. Keep the article and make vicina agree with farmacia.
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