Common German Phrases and Words for Describing Illnesses228

When traveling or living abroad, it's always helpful to know some basic phrases and words for describing illnesses in case you need medical attention. In this article, we'll provide you with a comprehensive list of common German words and phrases related to illness, along with their English translations and pronunciation guides.

Common Illnesses and Symptoms
Erkältung (cold): air-kaal-tung
Grippe (flu): gree-pa
Husten (cough): hoo-sten
Schnupfen (runny nose): shnoop-fen
Halsschmerzen (sore throat): hals-schmer-tsen
Kopfschmerzen (headache): kopf-schmer-tsen
Bauchschmerzen (stomach ache): bowch-schmer-tsen
Durchfall (diarrhea): doorch-fall
Übelkeit (nausea): oo-bel-kite
Fieber (fever): fee-ber
Schwäche (weakness): shway-che

Phrases for Describing Symptoms
Ich habe ... (I have ... ): ik hah-be
Mir ist übel. (I feel sick.): meer ist oo-bel
Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. (I have a headache.): ik hah-be kopf-schmer-tsen
Ich habe Bauchschmerzen. (I have a stomachache.): ik hah-be bowch-schmer-tsen
Ich habe Durchfall. (I have diarrhea.): ik hah-be doorch-fall
Ich habe Fieber. (I have a fever.): ik hah-be fee-ber
Ich fühle mich schwach. (I feel weak.): ik fueh-le mich shway-che

Phrases for Seeking Medical Attention
Ich brauche einen Arzt. (I need a doctor.): ik brow-che ei-nen artst
Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren. (I would like to make an appointment.): ik moech-te ei-nen ter-min fer-ein-baren
Wo ist die nächste Apotheke? (Where is the nearest pharmacy?): wo ist dee nax-te ah-po-the-ke
Ich habe Schmerzen. (I am in pain.): ik hah-be schmer-tsen
Ich fühle mich sehr krank. (I feel very sick.): ik fueh-le mich sehr krank

Additional Vocabulary
Arzt (doctor): artst
Krankenschwester (nurse): kran-ken-schwes-ter
Krankenhaus (hospital): kran-ken-howss
Medikamente (medication): me-di-ka-men-te
Rezept (prescription): re-zept
Apotheke (pharmacy): ah-po-the-ke

Example Conversation

Here is a sample conversation using some of the phrases and words provided above:Patient: "Ich habe starke Kopfschmerzen." (I have a severe headache.)
Doctor: "Seit wann haben Sie die Kopfschmerzen?" (How long have you had the headache?)
Patient: "Seit gestern Abend." (Since yesterday evening.)
Doctor: "Haben Sie noch andere Symptome?" (Do you have any other symptoms?)
Patient: "Mir ist auch übel." (I also feel nauseous.)
Doctor: "Ich schreibe Ihnen eine Überweisung für eine Blutuntersuchung aus." (I will give you a referral for a blood test.)

Conclusion

Being able to communicate your symptoms and needs when you're sick is essential for getting the proper medical care. We hope this guide to common German words and phrases for describing illnesses has been helpful. Remember to practice these phrases and memorize key vocabulary so that you can be prepared in case you need to seek medical attention while in Germany.

2025-02-24

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