ร้านขายยา

Explanation

The word is transparently formed from ร้าน “shop,” ขาย “sell,” and ยา “medicine”—literally, “a shop that sells medicine.” It is a common, neutral expression used in everyday conversation, writing, and signs. It can refer both to a place that sells medication and to a pharmacy where customers ask a pharmacist for advice. When counting pharmacies as shops, ร้าน is used as the classifier, as in ร้านขายยาสองร้าน, “two pharmacies.”

Usage

Commonly used when buying medicine, consulting a pharmacist, or asking where the nearest pharmacy is. It is especially useful while traveling, for example in แถวนี้มีร้านขายยาไหม, “Is there a pharmacy around here?”

Caution

Unlike “drugstore,” which can suggest a large store selling toiletries, food, and household goods, ร้านขายยา often refers to any pharmacy focused mainly on medicine, including a small neighborhood shop. A hospital dispensary or medication counter may instead be called ห้องยา.

1 pharmacy synonyms

• ร้านยา

  ร้านยา is a shorter form commonly heard in conversation. ร้านขายยา is the full, standard term and works naturally in speech, writing, and signs.