German vocabulary for common situations at the doctor’s office, including symptoms, medical terms, and useful phrases for appointments.
Going to the doctor (beim Arzt) is an important part of everyday life, and having the right German vocabulary can help you communicate your symptoms, understand the doctor’s questions, and follow medical advice. This guide covers essential words and phrases for describing health issues, talking about your body, and navigating a medical appointment in German.
Symptoms
Being able to describe your symptoms clearly is the first step in getting the right diagnosis. Here are some common German words for symptoms you might need to talk about:
| German Symptom | English Symptom | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieber | fever | Ich habe Fieber. | I have a fever. |
| Husten | cough | Ich habe einen schlimmen Husten. | I have a bad cough. |
| Kopfschmerzen | headache | Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. | I have a headache. |
| Halsschmerzen | sore throat | Mein Hals tut weh. Ich habe Halsschmerzen. | My throat hurts. I have a sore throat. |
| Übelkeit | nausea | Mir ist übel. | I feel nauseous. |
| Schwindel | dizziness | Mir ist schwindelig. | I feel dizzy. |
| Bauchschmerzen | stomach ache | Ich habe Bauchschmerzen. | I have a stomach ache. |
| Rückenschmerzen | back pain | Ich habe Rückenschmerzen. | I have back pain. |
| Schnupfen | runny nose | Ich habe Schnupfen. | I have a runny nose. |
| Müdigkeit | fatigue | Ich bin sehr müde. | I am very tired. |
Body Parts
Doctors often ask about specific parts of your body. Here’s a list of common German words for body parts that will help you understand and answer their questions:
| Singular | Plural | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| der Kopf (m) | die Köpfe | Mein Kopf tut weh. | My head hurts. |
| der Hals (m) | die Hälse | Ich habe einen kratzigen Hals. | I have a scratchy throat. |
| die Brust (f) | die Brüste | Meine Brust tut weh. | My chest hurts. |
| der Bauch (m) | die Bäuche | Ich habe Schmerzen im Bauch. | I have pain in my stomach. |
| der Rücken (m) | die Rücken | Mein Rücken ist verspannt. | My back is tense. |
| der Arm (m) | die Arme | Mein Arm tut weh. | My arm hurts. |
| das Bein (n) | die Beine | Mein Bein ist gebrochen. | My leg is broken. |
| die Hand (f) | die Hände | Meine Hand ist taub. | My hand is numb. |
| der Fuß (m) | die Füße | Mein Fuß schmerzt. | My foot hurts. |
| das Auge (n) | die Augen | Mein Auge ist rot. | My eye is red. |
Medical Terms
These common medical terms will help you understand the doctor’s explanations and follow their instructions more easily:
| German Term | English Term | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| die Untersuchung (f) | examination | Der Arzt macht eine Untersuchung. | The doctor is doing an examination. |
| das Rezept (n) | prescription | Ich brauche ein Rezept für Antibiotika. | I need a prescription for antibiotics. |
| die Tablette (f) | tablet | Ich nehme zweimal täglich eine Tablette. | I take one tablet twice a day. |
| die Spritze (f) | injection | Ich bekomme heute eine Spritze. | I am getting an injection today. |
| die Allergie (f) | allergy | Ich habe eine Allergie gegen Pollen. | I have an allergy to pollen. |
| die Diagnose (f) | diagnosis | Die Diagnose lautet Grippe. | The diagnosis is the flu. |
| die Genesung (f) | recovery | Gute Genesung! | Get well soon! |
| die Impfung (f) | vaccination | Ich habe die Grippeimpfung bekommen. | I got the flu vaccination. |
| der Termin (m) | appointment | Ich habe morgen einen Termin beim Arzt. | I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. |
| der Notfall (m) | emergency | Im Notfall rufen Sie die 112 an. | In an emergency, call 112. |
Ich habe eine ___ gegen Pollen.
What does 'die Allergie' mean in English?
allergy
'die Allergie' means 'allergy' in English. The sentence means 'I have an allergy to pollen'.
Der Arzt macht eine ___.
How do you say 'examination' in German?
Untersuchung
'Untersuchung' means 'examination' in German. The sentence means 'The doctor is doing an examination'.
Useful Phrases
These simple phrases will help you explain your situation, answer questions, and understand what the doctor says during your visit:
| German Phrase | English Phrase | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich habe Schmerzen. | I have pain. | Ich habe starke Schmerzen im Bauch. | I have severe pain in my stomach. |
| Mir ist schlecht. | I feel sick. | Mir ist schlecht seit gestern. | I have felt sick since yesterday. |
| Ich fühle mich müde. | I feel tired. | Ich fühle mich die ganze Zeit müde. | I feel tired all the time. |
| Seit wann haben Sie die Symptome? | Since when have you had the symptoms? | Seit wann haben Sie die Symptome? | Since when have you had the symptoms? |
| Haben Sie Allergien? | Do you have allergies? | Haben Sie Allergien? | Do you have allergies? |
| Nehmen Sie Medikamente? | Are you taking any medication? | Nehmen Sie Medikamente? | Are you taking any medication? |
| Ich brauche einen Termin. | I need an appointment. | Ich brauche einen Termin beim Hausarzt. | I need an appointment with the general practitioner. |
| Kann ich ohne Termin vorbeikommen? | Can I come without an appointment? | Kann ich ohne Termin vorbeikommen? | Can I come without an appointment? |
| Wie lange dauert die Behandlung? | How long does the treatment take? | Wie lange dauert die Behandlung? | How long does the treatment take? |
| Gibt es Nebenwirkungen? | Are there side effects? | Gibt es Nebenwirkungen bei diesem Medikament? | Are there side effects with this medication? |
Conclusion
Having the right German vocabulary for a doctor’s visit makes it easier to describe your symptoms, understand medical advice, and feel more confident in a healthcare setting. Practice these words and phrases regularly, and you’ll be better prepared for any medical appointment in Germany. Remember, it’s okay to ask the doctor to speak slowly or repeat something if you don’t understand — your health is the most important thing!
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Symptom: fever
- English Example: I have a fever.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
