Apotheker
/ˌapoˈteːkɐ/masculine
The German word for pharmacist is Apotheker. Wiktionary also lists Apothekerin.
Meaning: professional who dispenses prescription drugs (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apotheker | /ˌapoˈteːkɐ/ | masculine |
| Apothekerin | /ˌapoˈteːkəʁɪn/ | feminine |
A pharmacist is a professional who dispenses prescription drugs.
Which one should you use?
Apotheker is the masculine form used for a male pharmacist or as a generic term for the profession. Apothekerin is the feminine form used specifically when referring to a female pharmacist.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌapoˈteːkɐ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse the person, Apotheker, with the place, Apotheke.
Did you know?
- In Germany, an Apotheker must be a licensed owner or a designated manager of the Apotheke, as the law prohibits pharmacy chains from owning stores.
- Unlike some English-speaking regions where 'pharmacist' and 'chemist' are used interchangeably, in Germany, Apotheker is the only professional term, while Chemiker refers strictly to a scientist.
- Many traditional German pharmacies are still called Hofapotheke, meaning 'court pharmacy', if they once served a local royal or noble house.
Examples in context
- Er ist kein Apotheker.He's not a pharmacist.The first sentence is useful for stating that someone is not a pharmacist using Apotheker.Tatoeba #2127234 by Esperantostern, translation #13849041 by rul
- Tom ist kein Apotheker.Tom isn't a pharmacist.The second sentence is useful for stating that Tom is not a pharmacist using Apotheker.Tatoeba #9005498 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9005403 by CK
- Alis Großvater war Apotheker.Ali's grandpa was a pharmacist.The third sentence is useful for describing a grandfather's former profession using Apotheker.Tatoeba #12481608 by Waldelfe, translation #8804422 by moman
- Entschuldigung, wo finde ich einen Apotheker?Excuse me, where can I find a pharmacist?
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are standing in a pharmacy.
- FelixIst der Apotheker heute im Geschäft?Is the pharmacist in the shop today?
- LauraJa, er hilft gerade einem anderen Kunden.Yes, he is helping another customer right now.
- FelixIch muss mit dem Apotheker über mein Rezept sprechen.I need to talk to the pharmacist about my prescription.
- LauraDann warten wir kurz hier.Then let's wait here for a moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pharmacist” translations and entries Apotheker, Apothekerin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
