Der Kopf, die Hand, das Bein
Each body part has a gender and a plural you need for the dative: mit den Händen, “with the hands”. Tap to hear the word with its article.
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| der KopfKOPF | die Köpfe | head |
| das AugeOW-ge | die Augen | eye |
| das OhrOHR | die Ohren | ear |
| die NaseNAA-ze | die Nasen | nose |
| der MundMUNT | die Münder | mouth |
| der ZahnTSAAN | die Zähne | tooth |
| der HalsHALS | die Hälse | neck, throat |
| der ArmARM | die Arme | arm |
| die HandHANT | die Hände | hand |
| der FingerFING-er | die Finger | finger |
| das BeinBAIN | die Beine | leg |
| der FußFOOS | die Füße | foot |
Mir tut der Kopf weh, mir tun die Füße weh
Wehtun (to hurt) is a separable verb: weh goes to the end. The body part is the subject, so the verb agrees with it (tut for one, tun for several). The person who feels the pain is in the dative case: mir (to me), dir (to you), ihm (to him), ihr (to her).
Ich habe Fieber, mir ist schlecht
Most symptoms are nouns after ich habe (I have). Feelings of the whole body use the dative with sein and no subject: Mir ist schlecht, literally “to me is bad”, means “I feel sick”.
From the Termin to the Krankmeldung
In Germany you usually see your Hausarzt (family doctor) first. You need a Termin (appointment) and your Versichertenkarte (health insurance card). The doctor speaks to you as Sie, the polite “you”.
- 1Einen Termin machen · bookingIchIhätte gernwould-likeeinen Termin.an appointmentikh HE-te gern AI-nen ter-MEEN · “I’d like an appointment.”Hätte gern: the polite “I’d like”.
- 2An der Anmeldung · receptionHaben Siehave youIhreyourVersichertenkarte?insurance-cardHAA-ben zee EE-re fer-ZIKH-er-ten-kar-te · “Do you have your health insurance card?”Everyone in Germany has health insurance; the card is scanned every quarter.
- 3Im Sprechzimmer · consultationWaswhatfehltis-missingIhnen?to-youvas FAYLT EE-nen · “What seems to be the problem?”Literally “what is missing to you?”: Ihnen is the polite dative.
- 4Die Untersuchung · examinationMachen Siedobittepleaseden Mundthe mouthauf.openMA-khen zee BI-te dain MUNT AUF · “Please open your mouth.”Aufmachen is separable: auf goes to the end.
- 5Krankgeschrieben · signed offIchIschreibewriteSieyoudrei Tagethree dayskrank.illikh SHRAI-be zee DRAI TAA-ge KRANK · “I’m signing you off sick for three days.”Your employer needs this sick note from day three, often the first day.
Apotheke or Drogerie?
Medicines are sold only in an Apotheke (pharmacy, red A sign), even paracetamol. A Drogerie sells toiletries and cosmetics, not medicine. Many medicines are rezeptpflichtig: you need a prescription.