German for Describing Symptoms and Severity at the Doctor
Learn to describe symptoms and their severity in German, using precise vocabulary and structures for medical contexts.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you're not feeling well in a German-speaking country, you need to describe your symptoms clearly and indicate how severe they are. This lesson goes beyond simple statements like 'Ich habe eine Allergie' and teaches you how to specify the type, location, duration, and intensity of your symptoms. You'll learn useful phrases, grammatical patterns, and cultural nuances to communicate effectively with a doctor or pharmacist.
By the end, you can…
- describe common symptoms such as pain, fever, cough, and nausea in German.
- indicate the severity of a symptom using adjectives and adverbs.
- state how long I have had a symptom.
- ask and answer questions about the nature of a symptom.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich habe starke Kopfschmerzen.
I have a severe headache.
ikh HAH-buh SHTAR-kuh KOPF-shmair-tsen
Use 'stark' for intense pain. 'Kopfschmerzen' is always plural in German.
Mein Hals tut weh.
My throat hurts.
mine HAHLSS toot vay
This is a common way to say a body part hurts. Literally: 'My throat does pain.'
Ich fühle mich schwach und schwindelig.
I feel weak and dizzy.
ikh FEW-luh mikh SHVAKH oont SHVIN-duh-likh
Use 'schwach' for weakness and 'schwindelig' for dizziness. These are adjectives describing your state.
Seit gestern habe ich Durchfall.
Since yesterday I have had diarrhea.
zite GESS-tern HAH-buh ikh DOORKH-fahl
Use 'seit' + time expression to say how long you've had a symptom. 'Durchfall' is diarrhea.
Die Schmerzen sind unerträglich.
The pain is unbearable.
dee SHMAIR-tsen zint OON-air-trayk-likh
Use 'unerträglich' for extreme severity. This is a strong word, use only for very intense pain.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To describe pain in a specific body part, use 'Ich habe [body part]schmerzen' or 'Mein/Meine [body part] tut weh'. For example: 'Ich habe Bauchschmerzen' (I have stomach ache) or 'Mein Bein tut weh' (My leg hurts). To indicate severity, add adjectives like 'leicht' (mild), 'stark' (severe), or 'unerträglich' (unbearable). Note that 'Schmerzen' is plural, so use plural verb forms: 'Die Schmerzen sind stark.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when speaking to a doctor, pharmacist, or anyone asking about your health. For duration, use 'seit' + dative: 'seit zwei Tagen' (for two days), 'seit gestern' (since yesterday). For example: 'Seit drei Tagen habe ich Fieber.' In formal contexts, you might say 'Ich leide an' + dative for chronic conditions: 'Ich leide an Migräne.' But for acute symptoms, the patterns above are more common.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, was führt Sie zu mir?
Hello, what brings you to me?GOO-ten tahk, vass FEWRT zee tsoo meerIch habe seit gestern starke Kopfschmerzen und fühle mich schwindelig.
I have had a severe headache since yesterday and feel dizzy.ikh HAH-buh zite GESS-tern SHTAR-kuh KOPF-shmair-tsen oont FEW-luh mikh SHVIN-duh-likhHaben Sie auch Fieber oder Übelkeit?
Do you also have fever or nausea?HAH-ben zee owkh FEE-ber O-der EW-bel-kiteJa, ich habe leichtes Fieber und mir ist übel.
Yes, I have a mild fever and I feel nauseous.yah, ikh HAH-buh LIKH-tes FEE-ber oont meer ist EW-belA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, doctors often expect concise, factual descriptions. It's common to state the symptom, its duration, and severity directly. Avoid overly emotional language; instead, be precise. For example, say 'Die Schmerzen sind stark' rather than 'Es tut sooo weh!' Also, in formal situations, use the polite 'Sie' form with medical professionals unless they offer the informal 'du'.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Ich bin' with symptoms, e.g., 'Ich bin Schmerzen' or 'Ich bin krank' for specific symptoms.
Try this instead: Use 'Ich habe' for most symptoms: 'Ich habe Schmerzen' (I have pain). 'Ich bin krank' means 'I am sick' in general, but for specific symptoms, 'haben' is correct. For example, 'Ich habe Fieber' (I have a fever), not 'Ich bin Fieber'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I have had a cough for three days' in German?
Show a sample answer
Seit drei Tagen habe ich Husten.
This uses 'seit' + time expression and 'habe' with 'Husten'. Alternatively, 'Ich habe seit drei Tagen Husten' is also correct.
2What is the German phrase for 'The pain is mild'?
Show a sample answer
Die Schmerzen sind leicht.
This uses the plural 'Schmerzen' with 'sind' and the adjective 'leicht'. You could also say 'Ich habe leichte Schmerzen.'
3How do you say 'My stomach hurts' in German?
Show a sample answer
Mein Bauch tut weh.
This uses the pattern 'Mein [body part] tut weh'. Alternatively, 'Ich habe Bauchschmerzen' is also common.
To describe symptoms and severity in German, use 'Ich habe' + symptom, add adjectives like 'stark' or 'leicht' for severity, and 'seit' + time for duration. Be precise and factual when speaking to medical professionals.
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