If you’re a doctor, nurse, or medical professional working in Germany (or planning to), learning medical German is non-negotiable. Unlike standard German, hospital German is full of technical terms, patient-friendly explanations, and fast-paced communication.
In this post, we’ve compiled 100+ essential medical words to help you speak confidently with patients and colleagues in any healthcare setting.
🩺 1. General Medical Terms (Allgemeine medizinische Begriffe)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Gesundheit | health |
| die Krankheit | illness, disease |
| die Behandlung | treatment |
| die Untersuchung | examination |
| der Befund | medical finding/result |
| die Diagnose | diagnosis |
| das Symptom | symptom |
| die Therapie | therapy |
| das Medikament | medication |
| das Rezept | prescription |
| die Nebenwirkungen | side effects |
| die Impfung | vaccination |
| das Immunsystem | immune system |
| der Notfall | emergency |
| die Vorsorgeuntersuchung | preventive check-up |
🏥 2. Hospital & Medical Staff (Krankenhaus & Personal)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| das Krankenhaus | hospital |
| die Klinik | clinic |
| die Notaufnahme | emergency room (ER) |
| die Intensivstation | intensive care unit (ICU) |
| die Station | ward |
| der Arzt / die Ärztin | doctor (male/female) |
| der Chirurg / die Chirurgin | surgeon (male/female) |
| der Hausarzt | general practitioner (GP) |
| der Facharzt | specialist doctor |
| der Oberarzt | senior physician |
| der Chefarzt | chief physician |
| die Krankenschwester (outdated) | nurse (female) |
| der Krankenpfleger | nurse (male) |
| der Pflegedienst | nursing service |
| der Sanitäter | paramedic |
| der Apotheker / die Apothekerin | pharmacist |
✅ Cultural Tip: The term “Krankenschwester” (nurse) is now outdated. Use “Pflegekraft” instead!
🦴 3. Anatomy & Body Parts (Anatomie & Körperteile)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Kopf | head |
| das Gehirn | brain |
| das Herz | heart |
| die Lunge | lung |
| die Leber | liver |
| die Niere | kidney |
| der Darm | intestine |
| der Magen | stomach |
| die Haut | skin |
| das Blut | blood |
| der Knochen | bone |
| der Muskel | muscle |
| die Wirbelsäule | spine |
| das Gelenk | joint |
| der Nerv | nerve |
🤒 4. Common Symptoms (Häufige Symptome)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Schmerzen | pain |
| das Fieber | fever |
| die Übelkeit | nausea |
| das Erbrechen | vomiting |
| die Atemnot | shortness of breath |
| der Durchfall | diarrhea |
| die Verstopfung | constipation |
| der Schwindel | dizziness |
| die Müdigkeit | fatigue |
| die Entzündung | inflammation |
| die Schwellung | swelling |
| der Juckreiz | itching |
| der Husten | cough |
| die Blutung | bleeding |
| der Hautausschlag | rash |
✅ Important: When talking about pain, Germans say “Ich habe Schmerzen” (I have pain) or “Mir tut der Kopf weh” (My head hurts).
💊 5. Medications & Treatments (Medikamente & Behandlungen)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| das Schmerzmittel | painkiller |
| das Antibiotikum | antibiotic |
| das Beruhigungsmittel | sedative |
| das Schlafmittel | sleeping pill |
| das Blutdruckmedikament | blood pressure medication |
| die Injektion | injection |
| der Tropf | IV drip |
| die Infusion | infusion |
| die OP / Operation | surgery |
| die Narkose | anesthesia |
| das Pflaster | band-aid |
| die Salbe | ointment |
| der Verband | bandage |
| die Krankschreibung | sick note |
| die Physiotherapie | physical therapy |
✅ Cultural Note: In Germany, patients often expect a Krankschreibung (sick note) from their doctor, even for mild illnesses.
🆘 6. Emergency Situations (Notfälle)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Unfall | accident |
| die Verletzung | injury |
| die Verbrennung | burn |
| die Vergiftung | poisoning |
| der Herzinfarkt | heart attack |
| der Schlaganfall | stroke |
| die Atemstillstand | respiratory arrest |
| die Wiederbelebung | resuscitation |
| die Herz-Lungen-Wiederbelebung (HLW) | CPR |
| die Erstversorgung | first aid |
| die Notrufnummer | emergency number |
| der Rettungswagen | ambulance |
| die Bluttransfusion | blood transfusion |
✅ Important Number: In Germany, dial 112 for medical emergencies!
🩸 7. Patient Communication (Gespräch mit Patienten)
Here are phrases you’ll use daily when speaking with patients:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| “Was haben Sie für Beschwerden?” | What symptoms do you have? |
| “Seit wann haben Sie diese Schmerzen?” | Since when do you have this pain? |
| “Bitte entspannen Sie sich.” | Please relax. |
| “Atmen Sie tief ein… und aus.” | Take a deep breath in… and out. |
| “Ich werde Sie untersuchen.” | I’m going to examine you. |
| “Ich verschreibe Ihnen ein Medikament.” | I’m prescribing you a medication. |
| “Sie müssen ins Krankenhaus.” | You need to go to the hospital. |
| “Sie dürfen nach Hause gehen.” | You are allowed to go home. |
✅ Pro Tip: Germans value direct and clear communication in hospitals—no need for overly polite phrases.
🎯 Final Thoughts: Mastering German for Healthcare
✅ Learning medical German takes time, but these 100+ essential words will help you communicate effectively in a hospital or clinic.
✅ Practice real-life phrases—textbook German won’t prepare you for a patient saying:
“Doktor, mir geht’s gar nicht gut. Ich hab seit drei Tagen Bauchweh und mir ist übel.”
✅ If you want to work in Germany as a doctor or nurse, aim for at least B2-level German and consider taking the Fachsprachprüfung (medical language exam).
💬 What’s the most difficult part of learning German for medical professionals? Let us know in the comments!
🚑 Viel Erfolg im Krankenhaus! 🏥🇩🇪