German Health Vocabulary: Arzt, Apotheke and Emergencies
Words and phrases for symptoms, doctors, pharmacies and emergencies in German-speaking countries, including the key numbers and how to say where it hurts.
Falling ill abroad is stressful. A small set of German words and phrases helps you describe symptoms, understand advice and get the right help.
People and places
- der Arzt / die Ärztin — doctor
- der Hausarzt — family doctor (usually your first stop)
- der Facharzt — specialist
- der Zahnarzt — dentist
- das Krankenhaus — hospital
- die Notaufnahme — emergency room
- die Apotheke — pharmacy (marked by a red A)
- der Apotheker — pharmacist
- die Praxis — doctor's surgery
- die Krankenschwester / der Krankenpfleger — nurse
Body parts
der Kopf (head), das Auge (eye), das Ohr (ear), die Nase (nose), der Mund (mouth), der Zahn (tooth), der Hals (throat, neck), die Brust (chest), der Rücken (back), der Bauch (belly), der Magen (stomach), der Arm, die Hand, das Bein (leg), das Knie (knee), der Fuß (foot), das Herz (heart).
Describing symptoms
The pattern [body part] + -schmerzen (pain) is very common:
- Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. — I have a headache.
- Ich habe Bauchschmerzen. — I have a stomach ache.
- Ich habe Halsschmerzen. — I have a sore throat.
- Ich habe Rückenschmerzen. — I have back pain.
- Ich habe Zahnschmerzen. — I have toothache.
Or use wehtun with the dative:
- Mir tut der Kopf weh. — My head hurts.
- Mir tut der Rücken weh.
- Wo tut es weh? — Where does it hurt?
More symptoms:
- Ich habe Fieber. — I have a fever.
- Ich habe Husten. — I have a cough.
- Ich habe Schnupfen. — I have a runny nose.
- Ich bin erkältet. — I have a cold.
- Ich habe die Grippe. — I have the flu.
- Mir ist schlecht. or Mir ist übel. — I feel sick.
- Mir ist schwindelig. — I feel dizzy.
- Ich habe Durchfall. — I have diarrhoea.
- Ich bin allergisch gegen ... — I'm allergic to...
- Ich habe mich verletzt. — I've hurt myself.
- Ich habe mir den Arm gebrochen. — I've broken my arm.
General phrases
- Ich fühle mich nicht gut. — I don't feel well.
- Ich bin krank. — I'm ill.
- Ich brauche einen Arzt. — I need a doctor.
- Seit wann haben Sie die Beschwerden? — How long have you had the symptoms?
- Seit zwei Tagen. — For two days.
- Ich nehme Medikamente. — I take medication.
At the pharmacy
- das Medikament — medicine
- das Rezept — prescription
- die Tabletten — tablets
- die Salbe — ointment
- die Tropfen — drops
- das Schmerzmittel — painkiller
- das Pflaster — plaster
- Haben Sie etwas gegen Kopfschmerzen? — Do you have something for a headache?
- Wie oft muss ich das nehmen? — How often do I take this?
- Vor oder nach dem Essen? — Before or after eating?
Pharmacies outside normal hours show which one is on emergency duty (Notdienst).
Emergency numbers
- 112 — fire brigade and medical emergency (European number)
- 110 — police
- 116 117 — the on-call medical service for non-life-threatening problems outside surgery hours (in Germany)
Check current details before your trip.
In an emergency
- Hilfe! — Help!
- Rufen Sie einen Krankenwagen! — Call an ambulance!
- Es ist ein Notfall. — It's an emergency.
- Es gab einen Unfall. — There's been an accident.
- Er / Sie atmet nicht. — He / She isn't breathing.
Health insurance and paperwork
- die Krankenversicherung — health insurance
- die Krankenversicherungskarte / Gesundheitskarte — health insurance card
- die Krankschreibung — sick note
- die Überweisung — referral
Visitors from other EU countries usually carry the European Health Insurance Card, and travellers from elsewhere should have travel insurance.
Practical tips
- Book an appointment (Termin) with a doctor whenever possible.
- Carry a list of your medications and allergies.
- Pharmacists can advise on minor ailments.
This article is for language learning, not medical advice.
Look up health words offline with English German Dictionary →
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