10 Easy English Words For Shops

What does “chemist” mean in British English?

In British English, a chemist is a shop where you buy medicine. It is the same as a pharmacy. You go to the chemist for things like cold medicine, soap, and shampoo. Americans do not use this word for the shop. In the United States, people say “drugstore” or “pharmacy.” So if a British person says “I’m going to the chemist,” they mean the medicine shop.

In the clip the speaker says “I bought some medicine at the chemist’s.” British people often add 's and say “the chemist’s.” A big chemist’s shop in Britain is called Boots.