Pharmacy & Health

1. He rongoā āu mō te mamae upoko?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Aotearoa New Zealand

   Grammar Note

   "He" is the Māori indefinite article. "Āu" is the a-class possessive "your"; "He X āu?" = "Do you have X?". "Āhei" means "be able, be allowed" — it does not mean "in stock/available"

2. E hiahia ana ahau ki tētahi rongoā mō te puku

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "E … ana" is the progressive frame and the thing wanted is marked with "ki tētahi …". "Puku" is stomach or belly. ⚠ "Me … ana" is not a Māori frame — "me" (should) does not combine with "ana"

3. E hiahia ana ahau ki tētahi rongoā mō te mate kōrere

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Kōrere" means diarrhoea (example: "Mō te mate kōrere … he koromiko"). "Tikotiko" and "kohī" are synonyms

4. He kirikā tōku

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Kirikā" means fever ("ki te kirikā").

5. He mate pāwera tōku

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Mate pāwera" means allergy ("Kua mate pāwera au i te wero pī." = I'm allergic to bee stings). ⚠ "Āhuarangi" means "climate" and has nothing to do with allergy

6. E hiahia ana ahau ki ētahi takai mō te taotū

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Takai" means bandage (synonyms "tākaikai", "mara kaka mā"). "Taotū" is a wound ("He tino taotū tōna."). English "plaster" is also understood in NZ

7. E hiahia ana ahau ki tētahi rongoā ārai ngārara

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Rongoā ārai ngārara" means insect repellent. "Ngārara" covers insects and small creatures. ("Wairehu" is a real word but means water vapour / aerosol spray — an example is "wairehu patu ngaro", fly spray, an insecticide rather than a repellent)

8. E hiahia ana ahau ki tētahi pare tīkākā

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Pare tīkākā" means sunblock/sunscreen ("Kaua e wareware ki te pani i tō kakī ki te pare tīkākā."). Synonyms: "ārai tīkākā", "pani ārai hihirā". English "sunscreen" is also widely used

9. Me pēhea te kai i tēnei rongoā?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Me pēhea" is the Māori question "how". "Kai" is used for both eating and taking medicine

10. E matea ana he whakahau rongoā?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Whakahau rongoā" means a medical prescription. "E matea ana he …?" = "Is a … needed?" ("matea" = to be needed; "E rua ngā mea tino nui e matea ana e te tangata"). English "prescription" is also understood

11. He whakatiko māku, tēnā koa.

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Asking for a laxative at a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    "Whakatiko" means "(noun) laxative". "He … māku, tēnā koa" is the request frame of "He wai mātao māku, tēnā koa" (cold water, please).

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