US Medical Term · medications
Pill
Pastilla
Also: Píldora (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Pill |
| Spanish (Español) | Pastilla |
| Chinese (中文) | 藥丸 |
| Korean (한국어) | 알약 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Viên thuốc |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pastilyas |
| Portuguese (Português) | Pílula |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ยาเม็ด |
| Japanese (日本語) | 丸薬 |
What it means
A pill is a general, everyday term for any small solid medication you swallow, including tablets and capsules. In clinical settings, pharmacists prefer more specific terms, but patients and providers commonly use pill in conversation. Some pills are scored, meaning they have a line across the middle allowing them to be split in half when a lower dose is needed. However, not all pills can be safely cut or crushed, especially extended-release or enteric-coated formulations. Always check with your pharmacist before splitting, crushing, or chewing a pill, since altering some pill types can release too much medication at once, causing dangerous effects.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have trouble swallowing pills. Is there a liquid form of this medication?
Tengo dificultad para tragar pastillas. ¿Existe una forma líquida de este medicamento?
Can I cut this pill in half if my dose is only 5 milligrams?
¿Puedo cortar esta pastilla por la mitad si mi dosis es de solo 5 miligramos?
My child cannot swallow a pill. What are my options?
Mi hijo no puede tragar una pastilla. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026