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- Topic: German >
- "Das ist die Apotheke."
23 Comments
Apotheke could be translated as Drugstore or Drug Store; please see this:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drugstore. Duolingo didn't mark my answer as a wrong but they made the case that I missed a space.
1484
I chose drug store to see if it would work; apothecary is sort of outdated in the States. But it really isn't the same thing. Except in very new places, you have to go to the "Apotheke" in Germany to buy aspirin and to the "Drogerei" to buy shampoo. Aspirin is not an OTC drug.
You mean that "Drogerei" is not the same as "Apotheke". The drug store always has a pharmacy in it in the USA and so people often just say drugstore for the pharmacy. The pharmacy is why that store is called a "drug"store. I go to the drugstore to get prescriptions as well as shampoo, but if I only need shampoo I would probably get it at the supermarket. If "drug store" is not accepted as a variation of "drugstore" or vice versa, simply report it. I played it safe and used "pharmacy".
- 1484
They used to be quite different. Now, German OTC outlets are much like those in the US. You can also buy soda pop, shampoo and dog food there.
Would "apothecary" be an acceptable answer? (it probably isn't used in texts newer than shakespeare, but the etymology is there : / )
I used Apothecary, & it was accepted. It's a perfectly good word, & I don't see why one shouldn't use it.
Just wondering what you mean by it now? I'm not aware of it being in general use in UK English, and I do think that the Duo sentence is directing the listener to the local chemist/drugstore/pharmacy here and now, rather than time-travelling back two or three centuries . . .
No, it's not in general use, but it's still understood, & can be used to add a different flavour to a sentence. Watch one episode of A bit of Fry & Laurie & you'll see this sort of thing being thrown about all the time.
In sooth, I love the etymology - and Shakespeare - but if our aim in translating is to be understood in this century, then, sadly, it probably can't be acceptable. . . Pity - we could start a campaign to re-name all chemists' businesses - How about "Boots the Apothecary" (UK, obviously!)?
Wtf I just learned a new English word in a German-from-English course. Thanks, Francis!
- 1514
Surely Chemist, as in "Boots the Chemist", should be accepted. It means the same as pharmacy, dispensary, apothecary & drugstore.
In Scotland we would use the word 'chemist' when talking about a pharmacy.
Once "Apotheke" is translated with "Drugstore", now "Apotheke" is translated with "Pharmacy". The last in this respect is more correct, at least from the German point of view. Due to the fact that "Drugstore" more likely means "Drogie". (Drogerie = OTC drugs and medicines, and toiletries // Apotheke = Prescription Drugs and medicines, and toiletries). But I know that there are smoother transitions between these areas in the United States.
It is because in the US, the drugstore contains the pharmacy. Do Germans have to go to two different locations?
German "Drogerien" are not allowed to offer (or even buy) prescription drugs at all. The pharmaceutical industry only supplies to the "Apotheken" (pharmacies), and the shipment of drugs is also only up to them. There is the so-called "pharmacy act/law", which states that "prescription drugs may only be sold in pharmacies and there only by pharmaceutical staff to the final consumer." ( https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apothekenpflicht - 03/06/2016) Thus, Germans do have to go to two different locations, if needed.
hmmm that is interesting. It is close to the old version of pharmacist " apothecary".
This is a weird way i have of remembering this word. So in greek mythology there is a god name Apollo which reminds me of Apotheke and Apollo is a god of healing and a pharmacy has stuff to help healing.
- 98
in general English/UK English a chemist is the person who works in the chemists - exactly like the pharmacist works in the pharmacy. Therefore in England the correct, most commonly used term for where you would go to buy pills, bandages, get prescriptions made up etc is the chemists. I put down chemists and was told it was plural not singular - WRONG for the above reason
Well, as you could have read in the previous comments, it's chemist's, not chemists.
- 570
So disappointed this ap does not correct consistently if your spelling is off anymore. It was so good before. I spelled it "Apothece" and still got it right with no warning.
