If you’re a doctor or nurse planning to work in Germany—or you already do—you probably know this: medical German is a different language.
You could pass a B2 or C1 exam and still freeze when a patient says, “Mir ist schwindlig und ich habe seit drei Tagen Durchfall.”
Why? Because textbook German isn’t hospital German.
In this article, we’ll break down the essential German phrases and vocabulary you need as a healthcare professional—whether you’re doing rounds, taking patient history, or handling emergencies. Plus, we’ll include pronunciation tips and cultural insights to help you avoid awkward moments.
🚑 Why Medical German Is a Language of Its Own
In medicine, communication must be:
- Clear (no misinterpretation allowed)
- Fast (especially in emergencies)
- Compassionate (especially when delivering bad news)
But here’s the catch: patients don’t speak like textbooks. They use slang, vague descriptions, and regional dialects. And colleagues? They speak in acronyms and shorthand.
Let’s fix that.
🩺 15 Essential Phrases You’ll Use Every Day
These aren’t theoretical phrases—they’re what real German doctors and nurses say every single day.
1. “Was fehlt Ihnen?”
➡️ What’s wrong with you? / What’s the matter?
[Vahs felt een-en]
✅ Polite, professional, and commonly used when meeting a patient for the first time.
2. “Wo genau haben Sie Schmerzen?”
➡️ Where exactly do you feel pain?
[Vo geh-now hah-ben zee shmair-tsen]
✅ The word Schmerzen (pain) is always plural.
3. “Seit wann haben Sie diese Beschwerden?”
➡️ Since when have you had these symptoms?
✅ This helps get a timeline—crucial for diagnosis.
4. “Bitte atmen Sie tief ein… und aus.”
➡️ Please take a deep breath in… and out.
✅ Used all the time during physical exams or auscultation.
5. “Ich messe jetzt Ihren Blutdruck.”
➡️ I’m going to take your blood pressure now.
✅ Blutdruck = blood pressure.
Blutzucker = blood sugar.
Don’t mix them up.
6. “Ich lege Ihnen eine Infusion.”
➡️ I’m going to start an IV drip.
✅ Use this if you’re a nurse inserting an IV. Patients will often ask, “Tut das weh?” (Will it hurt?)
7. “Wir müssen Blut abnehmen.”
➡️ We need to take some blood.
✅ Abnehmen = to take off / take away → In this case, to draw blood.
8. “Haben Sie Allergien oder Unverträglichkeiten?”
➡️ Do you have any allergies or intolerances?
✅ Especially important before giving medication or food.
9. “Haben Sie regelmäßig Medikamente eingenommen?”
➡️ Have you been taking your medication regularly?
✅ Patients often forget. This question helps uncover missed doses or non-compliance.
10. “Sie müssen nüchtern bleiben.”
➡️ You must remain fasting (no food or drink).
✅ Use this before blood tests, surgery, or anesthesia.
✅ “Nüchtern” = literally “sober” or “empty stomach.”
11. “Wir müssen Sie leider stationär aufnehmen.”
➡️ Unfortunately, we have to admit you to the hospital.
✅ Use “leider” (unfortunately) to soften the tone—it’s more empathetic.
12. “Wir besprechen gleich Ihre Befunde.”
➡️ We’ll go over your test results shortly.
✅ “Befunde” = medical findings (from blood work, imaging, etc.)
13. “Ich schreibe ein Rezept für Sie.”
➡️ I’m writing a prescription for you.
✅ Germans use Rezept for both food recipes and medical prescriptions—context is key.
14. “Sie dürfen heute nach Hause gehen.”
➡️ You’re allowed to go home today.
✅ Discharge phrase. Add “Aber bitte kommen Sie zur Kontrolle wieder.” (But please return for a check-up.)
15. “Wenn sich etwas verändert, sagen Sie bitte sofort Bescheid.”
➡️ If anything changes, please let us know immediately.
✅ A vital phrase to close a patient conversation—shows care and professionalism.
📋 Bonus: Useful German Medical Acronyms & Slang
| German Term | Meaning | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| BZ | Blutzucker (blood sugar) | Nurses, doctors |
| RR | Blutdruck (blood pressure) | All medical staff |
| Palliativ | Palliative care | Doctors |
| KHK | Coronary heart disease | Doctors |
| V.a. | Verdacht auf (suspicion of) | Medical reports |
✅ Learn these abbreviations—they’ll appear in patient charts, rounds, and reports constantly.
💬 How Do Patients Actually Talk? (Real-World German)
Here’s what you might hear from patients—and how to decode it:
| What the patient says | What they mean |
|---|---|
| “Mir ist schwindlig.” | I feel dizzy. |
| “Ich hab Durchfall.” | I have diarrhea. |
| “Ich bin total fertig.” | I feel exhausted. |
| “Es zieht in der Brust.” | I feel a pulling sensation in my chest. |
| “Ich krieg schlecht Luft.” | I have trouble breathing. |
✅ These are colloquial phrases—you won’t find most of them in your textbook. Learn them.
🧠 Pro Tips for Working in German Hospitals
- Be formal at first: Use Sie with patients and senior staff.
- Be clear, not poetic: German medical communication is direct. No euphemisms.
- Be culturally aware: German patients may ask for a second opinion more often than you’re used to. Don’t take it personally.
- Ask for clarification: If someone uses a regional dialect or mumbles (common!), say: “Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?”
🎯 Final Thoughts
If you’re a doctor or nurse in Germany, learning medical German isn’t optional—it’s survival. But don’t be intimidated. With practice and the right vocabulary, you’ll gain not just language fluency, but also confidence and trust from your patients and colleagues.
💬 Want more medical German content? Leave a comment with the situations or departments you work in—ICU, surgery, pediatrics, etc.—and we’ll write targeted phrase guides just for you.
Stay safe—and viel Erfolg auf Station! 🩺🇩🇪