Appearance
Vocab: Health — A2 (1)
Health vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Allergie — allergy
The plural is Allergien, not Allergies. For symptoms, German commonly uses eine Allergie gegen plus an accusative substance.
Die Allergie ist sehr stark.
The allergy is very severe.
stark means severe or strong. Die Allergie is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Arzt behandelt die Allergie.
The doctor is treating the allergy.
der Arzt means the doctor, and behandelt means treats. die Allergie is accusative because behandeln takes a direct object; the finite verb behandelt is in position two.
Sie lebt mit der Allergie.
She lives with the allergy.
sie lebt means she lives. der Allergie is dative because mit always forces the dative; the finite verb lebt stands in position two.
Die Ursache der Allergie ist noch unklar.
The cause of the allergy is still unclear.
die Ursache means the cause, and noch unklar means still unclear. der Allergie is genitive because it identifies whose cause it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Viele Allergien beginnen im Frühling.
Many allergies begin in spring.
viele means many, beginnen means begin, and im Frühling means in spring. Allergien is the plural subject, so the finite verb beginnen is plural and stands in position two.
allergisch — allergic
Use allergisch gegen when naming the substance: gegen takes the accusative. The adjective can be predicative after sein or attributive before a noun, where it needs an adjective ending.
Ich bin allergisch gegen Nüsse.
I am allergic to nuts.
Nüsse means nuts, and gegen means against or to in this medical expression. allergisch is predicative after bin and has no ending; gegen takes the accusative, shown by plural Nüsse.
Sie hat eine allergische Reaktion.
She is having an allergic reaction.
eine Reaktion means a reaction, and hat means has or is experiencing. allergische stands before the feminine accusative noun Reaktion and takes -e after eine; the finite verb hat is in position two.
Diese Reaktion ist allergischer als die letzte.
This reaction is more allergic than the last one.
diese Reaktion means this reaction, and die letzte means the last one. The comparative allergischer is predicative after ist and is followed by als; the comparison describes a greater degree than the earlier reaction.
Im Sommer ist meine Haut am allergischsten.
In summer my skin is most allergic.
im Sommer means in summer, and meine Haut means my skin. am allergischsten is the predicative superlative after ist; im is short for in dem, a dative time expression.
das Altenheim — retirement home, old people's home
An Altenheim provides a place to live for older people, but it does not necessarily provide intensive nursing care. A facility with substantial nursing care is more specifically an Altenpflegeheim.
Das Altenheim liegt am Stadtrand.
The retirement home is on the edge of the city.
liegt means is located, and am Stadtrand means on the edge of the city. Das Altenheim is nominative because it is the subject, and liegt stands in position two.
Meine Tante besucht das Altenheim.
My aunt visits the retirement home.
meine Tante means my aunt, and besucht means visits. Das Altenheim is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the neuter article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Er arbeitet in einem Altenheim.
He works in a retirement home.
arbeitet means works. In einem Altenheim is dative because in expresses location here; the finite verb arbeitet is in position two.
Die Bewohner des Altenheims essen gemeinsam.
The residents of the retirement home eat together.
Bewohner means residents, and gemeinsam means together. Des Altenheims is genitive because it tells us which residents; the plural subject Bewohner takes essen.
In der Stadt gibt es drei Altenheime.
There are three retirement homes in the city.
In der Stadt means in the city, and drei means three. Altenheime is the plural after a number; in es gibt, the noun is an accusative object.
altern — to age, to grow old
Altern describes growing older or becoming affected by age; it is normally intransitive and therefore takes no accusative object. Its perfect uses sein: ist gealtert.
Meine Großmutter altert langsam.
My grandmother is ageing slowly.
meine Großmutter means my grandmother, and langsam means slowly. The finite verb altert stands in position two; meine Großmutter is the nominative subject, and langsam is an adverb, not an object.
Der Hund ist sichtbar gealtert.
The dog has visibly aged.
der Hund means the dog, and sichtbar means visibly or clearly. The perfect uses ist plus gealtert because altern describes a change of state; the participle stands at the end of the clause.
Das Holz alterte durch die Feuchtigkeit schnell.
The wood aged quickly because of the moisture.
das Holz means the wood, durch die Feuchtigkeit means because of the moisture, and schnell means quickly. Das Holz is nominative, while durch takes the accusative die Feuchtigkeit; the finite verb alterte is in position two.
Alter nicht so schnell!
Don't age so quickly!
nicht so schnell means not so quickly. Alter is the du imperative and stands first; the negative word nicht follows the verb, although this command sounds playful rather than fully natural.
An deiner Stelle würde ich langsamer altern.
If I were you, I would age more slowly.
an deiner Stelle means if I were you, and langsamer means more slowly. Würde is the Konjunktiv II auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive altern goes to the end; an takes the dative here, so deiner Stelle is dative.
Mit guter Pflege wird die Haut langsamer altern.
With good care, the skin will age more slowly.
mit guter Pflege means with good care, and die Haut means the skin. Mit forces the dative guter Pflege; wird is in position two and the infinitive altern goes to the end.
das Altersheim — retirement home, care home
Das Altersheim is a home for older people, often with care or support. The compound consists of Alter (“old age”) and Heim (“home”); the plural is Altersheime.
Das Altersheim liegt am Stadtrand.
The retirement home is on the edge of the city.
liegt means is located, and am Stadtrand means on the edge of the city. Das Altersheim is nominative because it is the subject; am is an dem, and dem Stadtrand is dative for a location.
Die Stadt baut das Altersheim um.
The city is renovating the retirement home.
die Stadt means the city, and baut ... um means is renovating or converting. Das Altersheim is accusative because umbauen takes an accusative object; the separable prefix um goes to the end.
Wir helfen dem Altersheim jeden Monat.
We help the retirement home every month.
wir helfen means we help, and jeden Monat means every month. Helfen takes the dative, so dem Altersheim is dative; the finite verb helfen stands in position two.
Die Bewohner des Altersheims feiern zusammen.
The residents of the retirement home celebrate together.
die Bewohner means the residents, and feiern zusammen means celebrate together. Des Altersheims is genitive and means of the retirement home; the finite verb feiern agrees with the plural subject die Bewohner.
In der Stadt gibt es zwei Altersheime.
There are two retirement homes in the city.
in der Stadt means in the city, and zwei means two. Altersheime is plural; after es gibt, the noun phrase is accusative, although the plural form has no visible case ending.
anstecken — to infect, to pass an illness on; to light; to switch on
For infecting another person, use jemanden anstecken with an accusative object. The reflexive expression sich anstecken means catch an illness and takes haben in the perfect.
Der kranke Junge steckt an.
The sick boy infects people.
krank means ill and der Junge means boy. The finite part steckt is in position two and the separable prefix an moves to the end; the object can be understood from context.
Ich habe mich bei meiner Kollegin angesteckt.
I caught it from my colleague.
sich anstecken means catch an illness, and die Kollegin means female colleague. mich is accusative in this reflexive use; the perfect uses haben, with angesteckt at the end.
Das Kind steckte an.
The child infected people.
das Kind means child. Steckte is the simple-past form, and the separable prefix an stands at the end; the object is understood from context.
Steck an!
Pass it on!
The imperative steck an means infect someone or pass an illness on. It addresses one person with du, and the separable prefix follows the verb.
Wenn du näher kommst, würdest du mich anstecken.
If you came closer, you would infect me.
näher means closer and kommen means come. Mich is accusative because it is the person infected; after würdest, the infinitive anstecken stays together at the end.
Du wirst dich bald anstecken, wenn du nicht vorsichtig bist.
You will soon catch it if you are not careful.
bald means soon and vorsichtig means careful. Future uses wirst plus the infinitive anstecken at the end; dich is accusative in the reflexive use.
Sie steckt an.
She lights it.
sie means she and eine Kerze means a candle in the common collocation eine Kerze anstecken. The finite verb steckt is in position two and an moves to the end.
Kannst du bitte das Licht anstecken?
Can you please switch on the light?
können means can, bitte means please, and das Licht means the light. After the modal verb kannst, the infinitive anstecken stays together at the end; das Licht is accusative.
anstrengen — to make an effort, to try hard; to tire someone out, to strain someone
The usual pattern is sich anstrengen, with an accusative reflexive pronoun: mich, dich, sich, and so on. It is separable: an moves to the end in a main clause, but the infinitive remains anstrengen.
Ich strenge mich an, die Prüfung zu bestehen.
I am trying hard to pass the exam.
mich means myself, die Prüfung means the exam, and zu bestehen means to pass. Mich is accusative because the reflexive verb uses an accusative reflexive pronoun; the finite verb strenge is in position two and an goes to the end.
Wir haben uns für das Konzert angestrengt.
We worked hard for the concert.
uns means ourselves, für das Konzert means for the concert, and Konzert means concert. The perfect uses haben plus angestrengt, which stands at the end; für forces the accusative case.
Er strengte sich an, aber die Aufgabe blieb schwierig.
He tried hard, but the task remained difficult.
aber means but, die Aufgabe means the task, and blieb schwierig means remained difficult. Sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun, and in the preterite strengte stands in position two while an closes the clause.
Streng dich an und lies den Text noch einmal!
Make an effort and read the text again!
lies means read, den Text means the text, and noch einmal means once again. Streng dich an is the informal singular imperative; dich is accusative and the separable an goes at the end.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich mich noch mehr anstrengen.
If I had more time, I would try even harder.
Wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and noch mehr means even more. In the wenn clause the finite verb hätte goes to the end; the conditional main clause uses würde plus the infinitive anstrengen.
Ich werde mich anstrengen, pünktlich zu sein.
I will make an effort to be on time.
pünktlich means on time, and zu sein means to be. Future tense uses werde in position two and the infinitive anstrengen at the end; mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun.
Die lange Reise strengt besonders die Kinder an.
The long journey especially tires the children out.
Die lange Reise means the long journey, besonders means especially, and die Kinder means the children. Die Kinder is accusative because this sense takes a person who is affected; strengt is in position two and the separable prefix an goes to the end.
Die schwere Arbeit hat ihn sehr angestrengt.
The heavy work has tired him out a lot.
schwere Arbeit means heavy work, ihn means him, and sehr means very or a lot. Ihn is accusative because the work affects him, and the perfect places angestrengt at the end after hat.
anstrengend — tiring, strenuous, demanding
This adjective can describe work, exercise, journeys, or situations that require effort. As a predicative adjective after sein, it does not take an ending; before a noun, it does.
Der lange Arbeitstag ist anstrengend.
The long working day is tiring.
Der lange Arbeitstag means the long working day. Anstrengend is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist ein anstrengender Beruf.
That is a demanding profession.
Das means that, and Beruf means profession or job. Anstrengender comes before the masculine noun Beruf after ein, so it takes the ending -er in the nominative.
Der zweite Weg ist anstrengender als der erste.
The second route is more tiring than the first.
Der zweite Weg means the second route, and der erste means the first one. The comparative anstrengender is followed by als when comparing two things; after ist it is predicative and has no extra ending.
Der Aufstieg war am anstrengendsten.
The climb was the most tiring.
Der Aufstieg means the climb, and war means was. Am anstrengendsten is the predicative superlative; am is not used before a noun, where a form such as der anstrengendste Aufstieg is needed.
der Apotheker — pharmacist
The feminine form is die Apothekerin. The plural Apotheker can mean male pharmacists or pharmacists generally, depending on context.
Der Apotheker berät die Kundin.
The pharmacist advises the customer.
berät means advises and die Kundin means the female customer. Der Apotheker is nominative because he is the subject, and the finite verb berät is in position two.
Ich frage den Apotheker.
I ask the pharmacist.
fragen means to ask and ich means I. Den Apotheker is accusative because fragen takes the person asked as a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich spreche mit dem Apotheker.
I speak with the pharmacist.
sprechen means speak. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Apotheker is dative; the noun itself has no extra ending.
Das Fahrrad des Apothekers steht draußen.
The pharmacist's bicycle is outside.
das Fahrrad means the bicycle and draußen means outside. Des Apothekers is genitive because it shows possession; this masculine noun adds -s in the genitive.
Die Apotheker arbeiten heute lange.
The pharmacists are working late today.
arbeiten means work, heute means today, and lange means for a long time or late. Die Apotheker is plural and has the same noun form as the singular; the plural verb is arbeiten.
der Atem — breath; breathing
Der Atem wird langsam ruhiger.
The breathing slowly becomes calmer.
wird means becomes, langsam means slowly, and ruhiger means calmer. Der Atem is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb wird stands in position two.
Der Arzt untersucht den Atem des Patienten.
The doctor examines the patient's breathing.
der Arzt means the doctor, untersucht means examines, and des Patienten means of the patient. Den Atem is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object, while des Patienten is genitive and shows whose breathing is meant.
Das Medikament hilft dem Atem des Patienten.
The medicine helps the patient's breathing.
das Medikament means the medicine, hilft means helps, and des Patienten means of the patient. Dem Atem is dative because helfen governs the dative; des Patienten is genitive.
Die Kontrolle des Atems dauert nur eine Minute.
The breathing check takes only one minute.
die Kontrolle means the check, dauert means takes or lasts, and nur eine Minute means only one minute. Des Atems is genitive because it specifies what is being checked; the finite verb dauert stands in position two.
Nach dem Sport brauchen wir drei tiefe Atemzüge.
After exercising, we need three deep breaths.
nach dem Sport means after exercising or after sport, brauchen means need, and tiefe means deep. Atemzüge is the countable plural used for individual breaths, and the whole phrase is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object.
ausschlafen — to sleep in, to get enough sleep
Unlike movement verbs, ausschlafen forms the perfect with haben: hat ausgeschlafen. In a main clause, aus- separates; after a modal verb or in a subordinate clause, the infinitive remains together.
Er schläft am Wochenende gern aus.
He likes to sleep in at the weekend.
am Wochenende means at the weekend and gern means gladly or likes to. The finite verb schläft is in position two, while the prefix aus goes to the end.
Wir haben heute lange ausgeschlafen.
We slept late today.
heute means today and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben because this is an activity, and ausgeschlafen stands at the end.
Am Sonntag schlief ich bis zehn Uhr aus.
On Sunday I slept in until ten.
am Sonntag means on Sunday and bis zehn Uhr means until ten o'clock. The strong past form schlief is in position two, and aus is separated and placed at the end.
Schlaf morgen richtig aus!
Get a proper sleep tomorrow!
morgen means tomorrow and richtig means properly or really well. The informal command omits du; schlaf comes first and aus goes to the end.
Wenn du mehr ausschlafen könntest, wärst du nicht so müde.
If you could sleep in more, you would not be so tired.
mehr means more, müde means tired, and nicht so means not so. In the wenn clause, ausschlafen stays together at the end; könntest expresses an unreal possibility.
Am Samstag werde ich lange ausschlafen.
On Saturday I will sleep in for a long time.
am Samstag means on Saturday and lange means for a long time. werde is the finite future auxiliary in position two, and the infinitive ausschlafen goes to the end.
der Autounfall — car accident
The compound combines Auto (“car”) and Unfall (“accident”). The plural has an umlaut: Autounfälle.
Der Autounfall passiert auf der Autobahn.
The car accident happens on the motorway.
passiert means “happens”, and auf der Autobahn means “on the motorway”. Autounfall is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb passiert stands in position two.
Die Polizei untersucht den Autounfall.
The police are investigating the car accident.
Die Polizei means “the police”, and untersucht means “investigates”. den Autounfall is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb untersucht is in position two.
Bei dem Autounfall hilft ein Arzt.
A doctor helps at the car accident.
Bei dem means “at the”, hilft means “helps”, and ein Arzt means “a doctor”. dem Autounfall is dative because bei always takes the dative; the subject ein Arzt is nominative.
Die Ursache des Autounfalls ist noch unbekannt.
The cause of the car accident is still unknown.
Die Ursache means “the cause”, noch means “still”, and unbekannt means “unknown”. des Autounfalls is genitive after Ursache and identifies which cause; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Auf dieser Straße passieren oft Autounfälle.
Car accidents often happen on this road.
Auf dieser Straße means “on this road”, and oft means “often”. Autounfälle is plural and has no article here; the finite verb passieren stands in position two after the fronted location.
der Bauchschmerz — stomach ache, abdominal pain
Although der Bauchschmerz is grammatically singular, everyday German very commonly uses the plural Bauchschmerzen for stomach ache in general. The usual expression is Bauchschmerzen haben, with Bauchschmerzen as the accusative object of haben.
Der Bauchschmerz ist heute stärker.
The stomach pain is stronger today.
heute means today and stärker means stronger. Der Bauchschmerz is nominative because it is the subject, and the linking verb ist stands in position two.
Der Arzt untersucht den Bauchschmerz.
The doctor examines the stomach pain.
der Arzt is the doctor and untersucht means examines. den Bauchschmerz is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb untersucht is in position two.
Der Arzt hilft dem Patienten bei dem Bauchschmerz.
The doctor helps the patient with the stomach pain.
der Arzt is the doctor, hilft means helps, and der Patient is the patient. dem Patienten is dative because helfen governs the dative, and bei dem Bauchschmerz is also dative because bei takes the dative.
Die Ursache des Bauchschmerzes ist unklar.
The cause of the stomach pain is unclear.
die Ursache means the cause and unklar means unclear. des Bauchschmerzes is genitive masculine and identifies the pain's cause; the subject is die Ursache, so the verb is singular ist.
Bauchschmerzen können viele Ursachen haben.
Stomach pains can have many causes.
können means can, viele means many, and Ursachen are causes. Bauchschmerzen is plural nominative as the subject; with the modal verb können, the infinitive haben goes to the end.
der Beinbruch — broken leg; leg fracture
The compound combines das Bein (leg) and der Bruch (fracture or break). It normally means a broken leg, not any broken bone in the body.
Der Beinbruch ist kompliziert.
The leg fracture is complicated.
kompliziert means complicated. Der Beinbruch is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Arzt behandelt den Beinbruch.
The doctor is treating the broken leg.
der Arzt means the doctor and behandelt means treats. Den Beinbruch is accusative because behandeln takes a direct object, and the finite verb behandelt is in position two.
Nach dem Unfall hilft er dem Beinbruch nicht direkt.
After the accident, he does not directly treat the leg fracture.
nach dem Unfall means after the accident, hilft means helps, and direkt means directly. Dem Beinbruch is dative because helfen always takes a dative object; the negation nicht does not change the case.
Die Heilung des Beinbruchs dauert lange.
The healing of the broken leg takes a long time.
die Heilung means the healing and dauert lange means takes a long time. Des Beinbruchs is genitive because it specifies what is healing, and the finite verb dauert stands in position two.
Im Krankenhaus werden zwei Beinbrüche behandelt.
Two broken legs are being treated in the hospital.
im Krankenhaus means in the hospital, zwei means two, and behandelt means treated. Zwei Beinbrüche is plural nominative because it is the subject of the passive sentence; werden is the finite verb in position two and behandelt goes to the end.
die Betreuung — care; support; supervision; childcare; care service
Betreuung is usually an uncountable activity or service, so the singular is common for care in general. The plural Betreuungen is used for separate care arrangements or programmes.
Die Betreuung beginnt um acht Uhr.
The care service begins at eight o'clock.
beginnt means begins, and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Die Betreuung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Die Eltern brauchen die Betreuung am Nachmittag.
The parents need care in the afternoon.
die Eltern means the parents, and am Nachmittag means in the afternoon. Die Betreuung is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; brauchen stands in position two.
Die Kinder vertrauen der Betreuung im Ferienlager.
The children trust the care service at the holiday camp.
die Kinder means the children, vertrauen means trust, and das Ferienlager is the holiday camp. Der Betreuung is dative because vertrauen takes a dative object; im Ferienlager means at the holiday camp.
Die Qualität der Betreuung ist sehr wichtig.
The quality of the care is very important.
die Qualität means the quality, and sehr wichtig means very important. Der Betreuung is genitive because it identifies whose quality is meant; ist stands in position two.
Verschiedene Betreuungen stehen zur Auswahl.
Different care arrangements are available to choose from.
verschiedene means different, and zur Auswahl stehen means be available to choose from. Betreuungen is plural and nominative as the subject; the phrase zur Auswahl contains dative zur.
Die Betreuung von Kindern kostet viel Zeit.
Looking after children takes a lot of time.
von Kindern means of children, or looking after children, and viel Zeit means a lot of time. Von takes the dative, and Betreuung is the subject of kostet, which stands in position two.
Während der Reise ist eine Betreuung möglich.
Care is possible during the journey.
während der Reise means during the journey, and möglich means possible. The phrase eine Betreuung is nominative after ist; während introduces a time phrase and the finite verb ist remains in position two.
betrinken — to get drunk
Betrinken is normally used reflexively as sich betrinken, to get drunk. It is a strong verb: betrinken – betrank – hat sich betrunken, and it takes haben in the perfect; the reflexive pronoun is accusative.
Er betrinkt sich jedes Wochenende.
He gets drunk every weekend.
jedes Wochenende means every weekend. Er is the nominative subject, and sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun required by sich betrinken; the finite verb betrinkt is in position two and sich follows it.
Er hat sich gestern betrunken.
He got drunk yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and haben means to have. The perfect uses hat plus the irregular Partizip II betrunken; sich is accusative and comes before the participle, which stands at the end.
Er betrank sich nach dem Konzert.
He got drunk after the concert.
nach dem Konzert means after the concert. Betrank is the strong preterite form with a vowel change, and sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun; the finite verb is in position two.
Betrink dich nicht so schnell!
Don’t get drunk so quickly!
nicht means not, and so schnell means so quickly. This is the informal singular imperative: the subject du is omitted, betrink comes first, and dich replaces sich as the accusative reflexive pronoun.
Wenn er mehr trinkt, würde er sich betrinken.
If he drank more, he would get drunk.
wenn means if, mehr means more, and trinken means to drink. Sich betrinken is at the end of the subordinate clause after wenn, while würde introduces the conditional in the main clause; sich is accusative.
Er wird sich heute Abend betrinken.
He will get drunk this evening.
heute Abend means this evening, and werden is used to form the future. The finite verb wird is in position two and the infinitive betrinken goes to the end; sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun, so it must not be replaced by ihn.
betrunken — drunk
betrunken describes a person who has had too much alcohol. It is often used with sein or werden, and as an adjective before a noun it needs the normal adjective ending, for example ein betrunkener Mann.
Nach der Party ist er betrunken.
He is drunk after the party.
die Party is the party, and nach means after here. betrunken is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; nach der Party is a dative phrase because this use of nach takes the dative.
Ein betrunkener Mann schläft auf der Bank.
A drunk man is sleeping on the bench.
ein Mann is a man, schläft means is sleeping, and die Bank is the bench. betrunkener stands before the nominative subject Mann and takes -er after the indefinite article ein; the finite verb schläft is in position two.
Er ist heute betrunkener als gestern.
He is drunker today than yesterday.
heute means today and gestern means yesterday. betrunkener compares two states with als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and therefore has no ending.
Von allen Gästen ist er am betrunkensten.
Of all the guests, he is the drunkest.
von allen Gästen means of all the guests, and Gäste means guests. am betrunkensten is the predicative superlative after ist; von takes the dative here, shown by allen Gästen.
blind — blind; blind to; unquestioning
Blind describes a person or animal that cannot see; it can also be used figuratively for someone who ignores something obvious. The respectful noun phrase is eine blinde Person or ein blinder Mensch, rather than using a person-label without context.
Der Mann ist blind.
The man is blind.
der Mann means the man. Blind is predicative because it comes after sein and has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie hilft einem blinden Kind.
She is helping a blind child.
hilft means helps and einem Kind means a child. Blinden comes before the noun and therefore has an adjective ending; einem blinden Kind is dative because helfen takes the dative.
Der Patient sieht blinder als vorher.
The patient sees more blindly than before.
der Patient means the patient, sieht means sees, and vorher means before. Blinder is the comparative and als introduces the comparison; the adjective has the masculine nominative ending because it describes der Patient.
Von allen Tieren sieht der Maulwurf am blindesten.
Of all animals, the mole sees the most blindly.
von allen Tieren means of all animals and der Maulwurf means the mole. Am blindesten is the predicative superlative after sieht; the am form is not placed directly before a noun.
Er ist blind für ihre Probleme.
He is blind to her problems.
ihre Probleme means her problems. The figurative expression blind für means unaware of, and für takes the accusative; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Blinder Gehorsam kann gefährlich sein.
Blind obedience can be dangerous.
blinder Gehorsam means blind obedience and gefährlich means dangerous. Blinder has the masculine nominative ending because the phrase is the subject, while sein comes at the end after kann.
bluten — to bleed
Bluten is an intransitive weak verb, so it normally has no accusative object: a person or body part blutet. Its perfect is formed with haben: hat geblutet.
Mein Finger blutet.
My finger is bleeding.
Mein Finger means my finger, and the sentence says that it is bleeding. Mein Finger is nominative because it is the subject; blutet is an intransitive finite verb in position two and takes no object.
Mein Knie hat stark geblutet.
My knee bled heavily.
Mein Knie means my knee, and stark means heavily or a lot. The perfect uses hat plus geblutet, with the Partizip II at the end; bluten takes haben, not sein.
Die Wunde blutete noch am nächsten Morgen.
The wound was still bleeding the next morning.
Die Wunde is the wound, noch means still, and am nächsten Morgen means the next morning. Blutete is the regular Präteritum form; the finite verb remains in position two.
Blute bitte nicht auf den Teppich!
Please do not bleed onto the carpet!
Bitte means please, and auf den Teppich means onto the carpet. Blute is the singular imperative and has no subject pronoun; auf takes the accusative here because it expresses movement onto a surface.
Wenn du dich schneidest, würdest du bluten.
If you cut yourself, you would bleed.
Wenn du dich schneidest means if you cut yourself. Würdest du bluten expresses a hypothetical result; würdest is in the subordinate clause's final position, while the finite verb comes first in the following question-like main clause.
Die Wunde wird bluten, wenn du sie nicht verbindest.
The wound will bleed if you do not bandage it.
Die Wunde is the wound, and verbinden means bandage or dress. Future uses wird plus the infinitive bluten at the end; after wenn, the finite verb verbindest goes to the end of its clause.
die Creme — cream; skin cream
Die Creme can mean a cream for the skin or a creamy food substance; context tells you which meaning is intended. The plural is die Cremes, and the genitive singular is der Creme.
Die Creme ist sehr weich.
The cream is very soft.
sehr weich means “very soft.” Die Creme is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe die Creme im Supermarkt.
I am buying the cream at the supermarket.
kaufe means “buy,” and im Supermarkt means “at the supermarket.” Die Creme is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, while kaufe is in position two.
Meine Schwester gibt der Creme etwas Zucker.
My sister adds some sugar to the cream.
Meine Schwester means “my sister,” gibt means “gives/adds,” and etwas Zucker means “some sugar.” Der Creme is dative because it is the substance receiving the sugar, while etwas Zucker is the accusative thing added.
Der Geruch der Creme ist angenehm.
The smell of the cream is pleasant.
Der Geruch means “the smell,” and angenehm means “pleasant.” Der Creme is genitive because it identifies whose smell it is, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Im Bad stehen drei Cremes.
There are three creams in the bathroom.
Im Bad means “in the bathroom,” stehen means “stand,” and drei means “three.” Drei Cremes is plural nominative as the subject after the verb, while im means in dem and marks a fixed location.
die Diät — diet
Diät usually means a special eating plan. In Austria and Germany, Diäten can also mean expense allowances paid to some politicians; context distinguishes the meanings.
Die Diät ist nicht einfach.
The diet is not easy.
nicht einfach means not easy. Die Diät is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich mache die Diät seit Montag.
I have been following the diet since Monday.
seit Montag means since Monday, and eine Diät machen means to follow a diet. Die Diät is accusative because it is the object of machen; mache is in position two.
Er folgt der Diät genau.
He follows the diet carefully.
folgen means to follow and genau means carefully or exactly. Der Diät is dative because folgen requires a dative object, not an accusative one.
Die Regeln der Diät sind streng.
The rules of the diet are strict.
die Regeln means the rules and streng means strict. Der Diät is genitive because it identifies which rules; the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Viele Diäten sind teuer.
Many diets are expensive.
viele means many and teuer means expensive. Diäten is the plural subject, so the verb is plural sind; the plural ending is -en.
der Doktor — doctor; person with a doctorate
der Doktor can mean a medical doctor or a person with a doctorate; the context tells you which meaning is intended. The ordinary plural is die Doktoren, not die Doktors.
Der Doktor untersucht den Patienten.
The doctor examines the patient.
untersuchen means to examine, and der Patient means the patient. Der Doktor is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb untersucht stands in position two, while den Patienten is accusative as the object.
Ich rufe den Doktor an.
I am calling the doctor.
anrufen means to call, and rufen ... an is a separable verb. den Doktor is accusative because anrufen takes an accusative object; rufe is in position two and an goes to the end.
Ich spreche mit dem Doktor.
I am speaking with the doctor.
sprechen means to speak, and mit means with. mit always takes the dative, so der Doktor becomes dem Doktor; the finite verb spreche is in position two.
Das Auto des Doktors steht vor dem Haus.
The doctor's car is standing in front of the house.
das Auto means the car, stehen means to stand or be located, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. des Doktors is genitive to show possession, and the genitive ending -s is added to the noun after des.
Die Doktoren sprechen über den Fall.
The doctors are discussing the case.
sprechen über means to talk or discuss, and der Fall means the case. Die Doktoren is the plural subject, while über den Fall is accusative because über here expresses the topic, not a location.
die Doktorin — female doctor; woman with a doctorate
die Doktorin is the feminine form of der Doktor and can mean a female doctor or a woman with a doctorate. Its plural is formed with -innen: die Doktorinnen.
Die Doktorin untersucht das Kind.
The doctor examines the child.
untersuchen means to examine, and das Kind means the child. Die Doktorin is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb untersucht stands in position two, and das Kind is accusative as the object.
Ich sehe die Doktorin morgen.
I will see the female doctor tomorrow.
sehen means to see, and morgen means tomorrow. die Doktorin is accusative because sehen takes an accusative object; the finite verb sehe is in position two, even though morgen comes at the end.
Wir sprechen mit der Doktorin.
We are speaking with the female doctor.
sprechen means to speak, and mit means with. mit always takes the dative, so die Doktorin becomes der Doktorin; the noun ending does not change.
Das Büro der Doktorin ist im zweiten Stock.
The female doctor's office is on the second floor.
das Büro means the office, sein means to be, and der zweite Stock means the second floor. der Doktorin is genitive and shows possession; the feminine noun stays unchanged, while the article die changes to der.
Die Doktorinnen arbeiten im Krankenhaus.
The female doctors work in the hospital.
arbeiten means to work, and das Krankenhaus means the hospital. Die Doktorinnen is the plural subject; im Krankenhaus means in the hospital and contains dative in dem because it describes a location.
die Droge — drug; drug substance, medicinal raw material
In everyday German, die Droge often means an illegal or mind-altering drug. For medicines prescribed by a doctor, das Medikament is usually more precise.
Die Droge wirkt sehr schnell.
The drug takes effect very quickly.
wirkt means takes effect, and sehr schnell means very quickly. Die Droge is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wirkt stands in position two.
Die Polizei findet die Droge in der Tasche.
The police find the drug in the bag.
die Polizei means the police, findet means finds, and die Tasche means the bag. Die Droge is accusative because finden takes a direct object, while in der Tasche is dative because it describes a location.
Der Arzt hilft dem Patienten mit der Droge.
The doctor helps the patient with the drug.
der Arzt means the doctor, hilft means helps, and der Patient means the patient. Der Droge is dative because mit always takes the dative; dem Patienten is also dative because helfen requires a dative person.
Die Wirkung der Droge ist unberechenbar.
The effect of the drug is unpredictable.
die Wirkung means the effect, and unberechenbar means unpredictable. Der Droge is genitive because it identifies whose effect it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Viele Jugendliche sprechen über Drogen.
Many young people talk about drugs.
viele Jugendliche means many young people, sprechen means talk, and über means about in this use. Drogen is the plural of die Droge, and über takes the accusative when it means about a topic.
Die Apotheke kauft getrocknete Drogen für die Herstellung von Tee.
The pharmacy buys dried plant substances to make tea.
die Apotheke means the pharmacy, getrocknet means dried, die Herstellung means production, and Tee means tea. Drogen is accusative as the object of kauft; für also takes the accusative, and zu introduces the purpose infinitive herzustellen when used in that form.
Diese Droge wird in der Medizin verwendet.
This drug substance is used in medicine.
diese means this, die Medizin means medicine, and verwendet means used. Die Droge is nominative because it is the subject of the passive sentence; wird ... verwendet forms the passive, with the participle at the end.
einnehmen — to take, ingest (medicine or food); to occupy, take up; to take in, earn (money)
For medicine, einnehmen takes an accusative object, such as eine Tablette einnehmen. It is separable in main clauses, but the infinitive and Partizip II stay together.
Sie nimmt die Tablette morgens ein.
She takes the tablet in the morning.
die Tablette is the tablet, and morgens means in the morning. Die Tablette is accusative because einnehmen takes a direct object; the verb splits, with nimmt in position two and ein at the end.
Er hat das Medikament nach dem Essen eingenommen.
He took the medicine after eating.
das Medikament is the medicine, and nach dem Essen means after the meal. The perfect uses hat ... eingenommen with haben; the Partizip II is whole and stands at the end.
Der Patient nahm die Tropfen am Abend ein.
The patient took the drops in the evening.
der Patient is the patient, die Tropfen are the drops, and am Abend means in the evening. Die Tropfen is accusative as the object; the strong preterite is nahm ... ein, not nahmte ... ein.
Nimm die Tablette mit Wasser ein.
Take the tablet with water.
die Tablette is the tablet, and mit Wasser means with water. This is the informal singular imperative; nimm has the irregular vowel change, while ein moves to the end.
Du würdest die Kapsel besser nach dem Essen einnehmen.
You would be better off taking the capsule after eating.
die Kapsel is the capsule, besser means better, and nach dem Essen means after the meal. Würdest ... einnehmen expresses advice or a hypothetical choice; the infinitive remains whole at the end.
Der Arzt wird die Dosis genau einnehmen lassen.
The doctor will have the dose taken exactly.
der Arzt is the doctor, die Dosis is the dose, and genau means exactly. Future uses wird in position two; with lassen, the infinitive einnehmen stays at the end, and die Dosis is accusative.
Bitte nehmen Sie Ihren Platz ein.
Please take your seat.
bitte means please, and Ihren Platz means your seat. Ihren Platz is accusative as the object; the formal command uses nehmen Sie, while the prefix ein goes to the end.
Der Schrank nimmt viel Platz ein.
The cupboard takes up a lot of space.
der Schrank is the cupboard, viel Platz means a lot of space, and viel is used without an ending with this mass noun. Viel Platz is accusative as the object, and nimmt ... ein is split in the main clause.
Das Café nimmt im Sommer mehr Geld ein.
The café takes in more money in summer.
das Café is the café, im Sommer means in summer, and mehr Geld means more money. Mehr Geld is accusative as the object; nimmt ... ein is the split verb form in a main clause.
Der Laden hat am Wochenende viel eingenommen.
The shop took in a lot over the weekend.
der Laden is the shop, am Wochenende means over the weekend, and viel means a lot. The perfect uses hat ... eingenommen with haben; the Partizip II stays together at the end.
das Eiweiß — protein; egg white
Eiweiß usually means protein in nutrition, but it can also mean the white part of an egg. It is normally an uncountable mass noun, so it has no plural; for different amounts, use a measure such as Gramm Eiweiß.
Eiweiß ist wichtig für die Muskeln.
Protein is important for the muscles.
wichtig means important and die Muskeln means the muscles. Eiweiß is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich esse gern Eiweiß.
I like eating protein.
gern means gladly or with pleasure. Eiweiß is accusative because esse takes a direct object, while the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Der Arzt empfiehlt mir mehr Eiweiß.
The doctor recommends that I eat more protein.
der Arzt means the doctor and mehr means more. mir is dative because empfehlen gives the recommendation to someone, while Eiweiß is the recommended thing and is accusative.
Die Bedeutung des Eiweißes ist gut untersucht.
The importance of protein has been well studied.
die Bedeutung means the importance and gut untersucht means well studied. des Eiweißes is genitive because it identifies what the importance belongs to; the neuter noun takes the ending -es.
erholen — to relax, to recover
This verb is normally used reflexively as sich erholen. Its principal parts are erholen – erholte – hat erholt, and the perfect uses haben; the reflexive pronoun changes with the subject.
Er erholt sich am Wochenende.
He relaxes at the weekend.
am Wochenende means at the weekend. Sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun referring back to er; erholt is the finite verb in position two.
Sie hat sich erholt.
She has recovered.
sich means herself here and erholt means recovered. The reflexive pronoun is accusative, hat is the auxiliary in position two, and the Partizip II erholt goes to the end.
Nach der Reise erholte sich Paul schnell.
Paul recovered quickly after the journey.
nach der Reise means after the journey and schnell means quickly. Sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun, and erholte is the regular Präteritum in position two.
Erhol dich gut!
Get plenty of rest!
gut means well or properly. The command uses erhol plus the accusative reflexive pronoun dich, while the subject du is omitted.
An deiner Stelle würde ich mich erholen.
If I were you, I would get some rest.
an deiner Stelle means if I were you and mich means myself. Mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun, and the infinitive erholen goes to the end after würde.
Nach dem Sport wird er sich erholen.
He will rest after exercising.
nach dem Sport means after exercising or after sport. Sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun, while wird is in position two and erholen goes to the end.
erholt — rested, refreshed
Erholt can be an adjective meaning rested, but it has the same form as the Partizip II of erholen. Context tells you whether it describes a state or forms a perfect-tense verb phrase.
Nach dem Urlaub bin ich wieder erholt.
After the holiday I am rested again.
nach dem Urlaub means after the holiday and wieder means again. Erholt is predicative after bin and therefore has no adjective ending; it describes the speaker's state.
Sie ist eine erholte Patientin.
She is a rested patient.
eine Patientin means a female patient. Erholte stands before the feminine noun Patientin after eine, so it takes the ending -e; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Nach dem Wochenende wirkt er erholter als vorher.
After the weekend he seems more rested than before.
nach dem Wochenende means after the weekend, wirkt means seems, and vorher means before. Erholter compares his present state with an earlier one, and als introduces that comparison.
Nach dieser Pause sieht sie am erholtesten aus.
After this break she looks the most rested.
diese Pause means this break and sieht ... aus means looks. Am erholtesten is the predicative superlative, while the separable verb sieht ... aus places aus at the end.
die Erholung — rest, relaxation, recovery
Erholung usually means rest or relaxation and is often used as an uncountable idea, but Erholungen is possible when referring to separate periods of rest. For the activity itself, German commonly says sich erholen or sich ausruhen.
Die Erholung tut mir gut.
The rest does me good.
tut mir gut means does me good. Die Erholung is nominative because it is the subject, while mir is dative with the fixed expression jemandem guttun.
Ich brauche die Erholung dringend.
I urgently need the rest.
brauchen means need and dringend means urgently. Die Erholung is accusative because it is the direct object of brauchen, and brauche is in position two.
Ich widme mich der Erholung.
I devote myself to relaxation.
widmen means devote and mich means myself. Der Erholung is dative because sich widmen requires a dative object; mich is the accusative reflexive object.
Die Wirkung der Erholung ist deutlich.
The effect of the rest is clear.
die Wirkung means the effect and deutlich means clear. Der Erholung is genitive because it identifies whose effect it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Kurze Erholungen helfen im Arbeitsalltag.
Short breaks help in everyday working life.
kurze means short and der Arbeitsalltag means everyday working life. Erholungen is a plural subject, so the article is omitted here and the finite verb helfen has the plural form.
erkälten — to catch a cold
The verb is normally reflexive: sich erkälten. It uses haben in the perfect, not sein; the related adjective erkältet means having a cold.
Er erkältet sich im Winter schnell.
He catches a cold quickly in winter.
im Winter means in winter and schnell means quickly. Sich is the reflexive accusative pronoun, and erkältet is the finite verb in position two; the verb is normally used with sich.
Sie hat sich beim Wandern erkältet.
She caught a cold while hiking.
beim Wandern means while hiking. Sich is reflexive accusative, hat is the auxiliary haben, and the Partizip II erkältet goes to the end.
Mein Sohn erkältete sich nach dem Schwimmen.
My son caught a cold after swimming.
mein Sohn means my son and nach dem Schwimmen means after swimming. Sich is the reflexive accusative pronoun; erkältete is the weak preterite form and stands in position two.
Erkälte dich nicht!
Don’t catch a cold!
nicht means not. The negative command uses erkälte dich, with dich as the reflexive accusative pronoun; in everyday German, people more often use a warning such as Pass auf instead.
Wenn du keinen Mantel trägst, würdest du dich erkälten.
If you do not wear a coat, you would catch a cold.
kein Mantel means no coat and tragen means to wear. In the wenn clause, the finite verb trägst goes to the end; würdest marks the conditional form and erkälten follows it as an infinitive.
Bei diesem Wetter wirst du dich bestimmt erkälten.
In this weather you will certainly catch a cold.
bei diesem Wetter means in this weather and bestimmt means certainly. Dich is reflexive accusative; wirst is the finite future auxiliary in position two and erkälten goes to the end.
erkältet — having a cold
Erkältet is an adjective meaning having a cold, and it can be used both after sein and before a noun with an adjective ending. It has the same form as the Partizip II of sich erkälten, but the adjective describes a state.
Ich bin erkältet.
I have a cold.
ich bin means I am. Erkältet is used predicatively after sein, so it has no adjective ending; German says ich bin erkältet, not literally I am cold in the sense of temperature.
Ein erkältetes Kind braucht Ruhe.
A child with a cold needs rest.
ein Kind means a child and Ruhe means rest. Erkältetes stands before the neuter noun Kind and takes the ending -es after ein; the whole noun phrase is nominative because it is the subject.
Heute bin ich erkälteter als gestern.
Today I have a worse cold than yesterday.
heute means today and gestern means yesterday. The comparative erkälteter is predicative after bin, and als introduces the thing used for comparison; in everyday speech, stärker erkältet is more common.
Von uns ist Paul am erkältetsten.
Paul has the worst cold of us all.
von uns means of us and Paul is a person’s name. The predicative superlative uses am erkältetsten; von uns is a prepositional phrase showing the group being compared.
die Ernährung — nutrition; diet
die Ernährung usually refers to a person's diet or nutrition in general and is often used as a mass noun. The plural Ernährungen is possible when comparing different dietary systems, but it is less common.
Die Ernährung ist für Kinder besonders wichtig.
Nutrition is especially important for children.
für Kinder means for children, and besonders wichtig means especially important. Die Ernährung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Viele Menschen ändern ihre Ernährung.
Many people change their diet.
viele Menschen means many people, and ändern means change. ihre Ernährung is accusative because ändern takes the diet as its direct object; the feminine accusative form of ihre is unchanged.
Mit der Ernährung allein wird das Problem nicht gelöst.
The problem cannot be solved by diet alone.
mit ... allein means with ... alone, and das Problem means the problem. der Ernährung is dative because mit always requires the dative; wird ... gelöst is a passive construction.
Die Qualität der Ernährung beeinflusst die Gesundheit.
The quality of the diet affects health.
die Qualität means the quality, beeinflusst means affects, and die Gesundheit means health. der Ernährung is genitive because it specifies whose quality is meant; the feminine genitive article is der.
Unterschiedliche Ernährungen können gesund sein.
Different diets can be healthy.
unterschiedliche means different, and gesund means healthy. Ernährungen is the plural subject, while können is plural and the infinitive sein goes to the end after the modal verb.
erschöpft — exhausted; worn out
erschöpft is both an adjective and the Partizip II of erschöpfen. As an adjective, it usually describes a person’s state and is often used with sein; it is not the same as müde, which can mean simply tired or sleepy.
Nach der Arbeit bin ich erschöpft.
I am exhausted after work.
nach der Arbeit means after work. The adjective erschöpft follows bin as a predicative adjective, and nach takes the dative here because it expresses a time or location context, not a direction.
Die erschöpfte Läuferin trinkt Wasser.
The exhausted runner drinks water.
die Läuferin means the female runner, and Wasser means water. erschöpfte stands before the feminine noun and takes -e after the definite article die; the finite verb trinkt is in position two.
Nach dem Marathon war ich noch erschöpfter.
After the marathon, I was even more exhausted.
nach dem Marathon means after the marathon, and noch means even or still. erschöpfter compares two states after war; nach takes the dative, shown by dem Marathon.
Von uns allen war Maria am erschöpftesten.
Of all of us, Maria was the most exhausted.
von uns allen means of all of us, and von takes the dative uns. am erschöpftesten is the predicative superlative after war; it does not take an adjective ending because it uses the am form.
das Fieber — fever
Fieber is usually used without a plural because it describes a condition or body temperature. Say Fieber haben for to have a fever and Fieber messen for to take the temperature.
Das Fieber ist heute niedriger.
The fever is lower today.
heute means today and niedriger means lower. Das Fieber is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Arzt misst das Fieber.
The doctor is taking the temperature.
Der Arzt is the doctor and misst means measures or takes. Das Fieber is accusative because messen takes a direct object; the finite verb misst is in position two.
Bei dem Fieber bleibt sie zu Hause.
Because of the fever, she stays at home.
bei means because of or with in this context, and zu Hause means at home. Dem Fieber is dative because bei always takes the dative; bleibt is the finite verb in position two.
Sie hat wegen des Fiebers nicht geschlafen.
She did not sleep because of the fever.
wegen means because of and geschlafen means slept. Des Fiebers is genitive because wegen commonly takes the genitive; hat ... geschlafen forms the perfect, with geschlafen at the end.
Bei Kindern können Fieber und Husten zusammen auftreten.
In children, fever and coughing can occur together.
Bei Kindern means in children, Husten means coughing, and zusammen auftreten means occur together. Fieber normally has no plural because it is a mass noun; here it is part of the subject, and können stands in position two.
fit — fit, physically healthy; ready, capable
Fit is an international, informal adjective and is especially common for physical health. It can also mean ready or capable for a task, as in fit für die Prüfung.
Nach dem Training fühle ich mich fit.
I feel fit after the workout.
nach dem Training means after the workout, and fühle ich mich means I feel. Fit is predicative after fühlen, while mich is accusative because sich fühlen is used reflexively here.
Sie hat einen fitten Körper.
She has a fit body.
sie means she and Körper means body. Fitten stands before the masculine accusative noun Körper and therefore takes the ending -en after einen.
Ich bin heute fitter als gestern.
I am fitter today than yesterday.
heute means today and gestern means yesterday. Fitter compares two states and is used predicatively after sein; als introduces the second side of the comparison.
Von allen Läufern ist Anna am fittesten.
Of all the runners, Anna is the fittest.
von allen Läufern means of all the runners, and Läufer means runners. Am fittesten is the predicative superlative after sein; the am ... -sten form is not used directly before a noun.
Mit diesem Plan bleibst du fit.
You stay fit with this plan.
mit diesem Plan means with this plan, and bleibst means stay. Fit follows the verb bleiben as a predicative adjective and therefore has no ending; the finite verb is in position two.
Nach dem Urlaub bin ich wieder fit für die Arbeit.
After the holiday, I am fit for work again.
nach dem Urlaub means after the holiday, wieder means again, and die Arbeit means work. Fit is predicative after sein, and für die Arbeit uses the accusative because für always takes the accusative.
Bist du fit für die Prüfung?
Are you ready for the exam?
bist du means are you, and die Prüfung means the exam. Fit means ready here and follows sein without an ending; für die Prüfung is accusative because für governs the accusative.
die Fitness — fitness, physical condition; fitness training, exercise
Fitness usually means general physical condition and is normally used only in the singular. It is often used with haben, verbessern or trainieren when talking about exercise.
Die Fitness ist mir wichtig.
Fitness is important to me.
wichtig means important, and mir means to me. Fitness is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two, and mir is dative with the meaning “to me.”
Ich trainiere die Fitness meiner Beine.
I train my leg fitness.
trainieren means to train, and die Beine means the legs. Fitness is accusative because trainieren takes an accusative object, while meiner Beine is genitive and means of my legs; the finite verb trainiere is in position two.
Mit der Fitness kommt auch mehr Energie.
With better fitness, more energy also comes.
mit means with, and mehr Energie means more energy. der Fitness is dative because mit always takes the dative; the verb kommt is in position two, after the prepositional phrase.
Die Bedeutung der Fitness wird oft unterschätzt.
The importance of fitness is often underestimated.
die Bedeutung means the importance, and unterschätzt means underestimated. der Fitness is genitive because it specifies whose importance is meant; wird ... unterschätzt is a passive construction with the participle at the end.
Sportler achten auf ihre Fitness.
Athletes pay attention to their fitness.
Sportler means athletes, and achten auf means pay attention to. Fitness normally has no plural because it is uncountable; ihre Fitness is accusative because auf in this fixed expression takes the accusative.
Im Urlaub mache ich morgens Fitness.
I do fitness training in the mornings on holiday.
im Urlaub means on holiday, and morgens means in the mornings. Fitness is used without an article here because it refers to an activity; the finite verb mache is in position two, while im Urlaub gives the setting.
Das Hotel bietet Fitness und Yoga an.
The hotel offers fitness training and yoga.
das Hotel means the hotel, bietet ... an means offers, and Yoga is a type of exercise. Fitness and Yoga are accusative objects of anbieten; the separable verb has bietet in position two and an at the end.
fühlen — to feel, to sense; to feel, to feel oneself
The non-reflexive use means to sense something physically and takes an accusative object. The common reflexive pattern sich fühlen means to feel a certain way, as in sich gut fühlen.
Ich fühle den kalten Wind.
I feel the cold wind.
der kalte Wind means the cold wind. Ich is the subject in the nominative, while den kalten Wind is accusative because fühlen takes a direct object; the finite verb fühle is in position two.
Ich habe den kalten Wind gefühlt.
I felt the cold wind.
der kalte Wind means the cold wind. The perfect uses habe plus gefühlt; den kalten Wind is accusative as the object, and the Partizip II gefühlt goes to the end.
Früher fühlte ich den Wind stärker.
In the past, I felt the wind more strongly.
früher means in the past, and stärker means more strongly. The weak-verb past form fühlte is in position two; den Wind is accusative because it is what is felt.
Fühl den Stoff!
Feel the fabric!
der Stoff means the fabric or material. Fühl is a direct du command, and den Stoff is accusative because it is the object of fühlen; the subject du is normally left out.
Ich würde die raue Oberfläche sofort fühlen.
I would immediately feel the rough surface.
rau means rough, die Oberfläche means the surface, and sofort means immediately. Würde ... fühlen expresses a hypothetical situation; die raue Oberfläche is accusative as the direct object.
Morgen werde ich den Unterschied deutlich fühlen.
Tomorrow I will clearly feel the difference.
morgen means tomorrow, der Unterschied means the difference, and deutlich means clearly. Future tense uses werde plus the infinitive fühlen at the end; den Unterschied is accusative because it is the object.
Sie fühlt sich heute müde.
She feels tired today.
heute means today, and müde means tired. Sich fühlen is reflexive, so sich refers back to sie; the adjective müde follows the verb without an ending because it is predicative.
Nach dem Urlaub haben wir uns sehr gefühlt.
We felt very good after the holiday.
der Urlaub means the holiday and sehr means very; uns means ourselves or us here. The perfect is formed with haben and gefühlt, while the reflexive pronoun agrees with wir and the Partizip II stands at the end.
die Geburt — birth, childbirth
die Geburt is used for the birth of a baby and for the process of childbirth. The related verb is gebären, to give birth, while geboren werden means to be born.
Die Geburt war sehr lang.
The birth was very long.
war means was, and sehr lang means very long. die Geburt is the nominative subject; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Wir feiern die Geburt unseres Sohnes.
We are celebrating the birth of our son.
feiern means to celebrate, and unseres Sohnes means our son. die Geburt is accusative because feiern takes a direct object; unseres Sohnes is genitive and shows whose birth it is.
Nach der Geburt braucht die Mutter Ruhe.
After the birth, the mother needs rest.
nach means after, die Mutter is the mother, and Ruhe means rest. nach der Geburt is dative because nach always takes the dative; the finite verb braucht is in position two.
Die Zeit der Geburt steht im Bericht.
The time of the birth is in the report.
die Zeit means the time, and der Bericht is the report. der Geburt is genitive after die Zeit to show which time; steht is in position two.
Im Krankenhaus gibt es heute drei Geburten.
There are three births in the hospital today.
im Krankenhaus means in the hospital, heute means today, and drei means three. drei Geburten follows es gibt, which takes the accusative; im Krankenhaus is dative because in describes a fixed location.
gefährlich — dangerous, risky
gefährlich normally describes something that can cause harm and is often followed by für plus the accusative: gefährlich für Kinder. Its regular comparison is gefährlicher, am gefährlichsten.
Diese Straße ist gefährlich.
This road is dangerous.
diese Straße means this road. gefährlich is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; diese Straße is nominative because it is the subject.
Das ist ein gefährlicher Hund.
That is a dangerous dog.
ein gefährlicher Hund means a dangerous dog. The adjective has -er because it comes before a masculine nominative noun after the indefinite article ein; ist links the subject to the noun phrase.
Radfahren ohne Licht ist gefährlicher als mit Licht.
Cycling without a light is more dangerous than with a light.
Radfahren ohne Licht means cycling without a light, and mit Licht means with a light. gefährlicher compares two situations with als; ohne takes the accusative, while mit takes the dative.
Das ist der gefährlichste Weg zum Gipfel.
That is the most dangerous route to the summit.
der Weg means the route or path and zum Gipfel means to the summit. Before the masculine noun Weg, the superlative is gefährlichste with an adjective ending; zum is short for zu dem and takes the dative.
giftig — poisonous, toxic
giftig describes something that contains poison or causes harm. It is different from böse, which usually describes a person's character or behaviour, not a poisonous substance.
Der Pilz ist giftig.
The mushroom is poisonous.
der Pilz means the mushroom. The adjective is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist eine giftige Pflanze.
That is a poisonous plant.
eine Pflanze means a plant. giftige stands before the feminine noun Pflanze and takes -e after the indefinite article eine; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Diese Beeren sind giftiger als die anderen.
These berries are more poisonous than the others.
diese Beeren means these berries, and die anderen means the others. giftiger compares two things and is followed by als; after sind, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Diese Schlange ist am giftigsten.
This snake is the most poisonous.
diese Schlange means this snake. am giftigsten is the predicative superlative after ist; learners should not add a noun ending to this am form.
das Gipsbein — plaster cast on a leg
das Gipsbein is a compound: Gips means plaster and Bein means leg. In everyday speech it usually means the plaster cast, not the injured leg itself.
Das Gipsbein ist sehr schwer.
The plaster cast on the leg is very heavy.
sehr schwer means very heavy. Das Gipsbein is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Arzt untersucht das Gipsbein.
The doctor examines the plaster cast on the leg.
der Arzt means the doctor, and untersuchen means to examine. das Gipsbein is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb untersucht is in position two.
Mit dem Gipsbein kann er nicht laufen.
He cannot walk with the plaster cast on his leg.
mit means with, and laufen means to walk. dem Gipsbein is dative because mit always takes the dative; kann is in position two and the infinitive laufen goes to the end.
Die Farbe des Gipsbeins ist blau.
The colour of the plaster cast is blue.
die Farbe means the colour, and blau means blue. des Gipsbeins is genitive to show whose colour it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Im Wartezimmer sitzen drei Patienten mit Gipsbeinen.
Three patients with plaster casts on their legs are sitting in the waiting room.
das Wartezimmer means the waiting room, drei Patienten means three patients, and sitzen means are sitting. Gipsbeinen is plural dative after mit; the plural ending -e becomes -en in the dative plural.
die Grippe — flu, influenza
The usual word is singular even when speaking generally about the illness. The plural Grippen is used mainly for different outbreaks or types of flu.
Die Grippe beginnt oft plötzlich.
The flu often starts suddenly.
plötzlich means suddenly, and beginnen means to start. Die Grippe is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Ich habe Grippe und bleibe im Bett.
I have the flu and am staying in bed.
das Bett means bed, and bleiben means to stay. Grippe is accusative as the object of haben, and the finite verbs habe and bleibe are in position two in their clauses.
Nach der Grippe war ich noch sehr müde.
After the flu, I was still very tired.
nach means after, and müde means tired. Nach always takes the dative, so der Grippe is dative; war is in position two.
Die Symptome der Grippe können stark sein.
The symptoms of the flu can be severe.
die Symptome means the symptoms, stark means severe or strong, and können means can. Der Grippe is genitive because it identifies whose symptoms they are, and the infinitive sein goes to the end after the modal verb können.
Im Winter treten verschiedene Grippen auf.
In winter, different strains or outbreaks of flu occur.
im Winter means in winter, verschieden means different, and auftreten means to occur or appear. Grippen is the plural of die Grippe; the separable verb treten ... auf puts auf at the end of the main clause.
der Hausarzt — general practitioner, family doctor
A Hausarzt is a doctor for general medical care, not necessarily a doctor who works at a patient’s house. The feminine form is Hausärztin, and the plural is Hausärzte.
Mein Hausarzt kennt meine Krankengeschichte.
My general practitioner knows my medical history.
Mein means my, kennt means knows, and Krankengeschichte means medical history. Mein Hausarzt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb kennt is in position two.
Ich rufe meinen Hausarzt an.
I am calling my general practitioner.
Ich rufe ... an means I am calling, and meinen means my in the masculine accusative. Meinen Hausarzt is accusative because anrufen takes a direct object; the separable verb appears as rufe ... an, with an at the end.
Ich vertraue meinem Hausarzt.
I trust my general practitioner.
Vertraue means trust, and meinem means my in the masculine dative. Meinem Hausarzt is dative because vertrauen always takes a dative object; the finite verb vertraue is in position two.
Die Empfehlung des Hausarztes war hilfreich.
The general practitioner’s recommendation was helpful.
Die Empfehlung means the recommendation and hilfreich means helpful. Des Hausarztes is genitive because it shows whose recommendation it was; the masculine noun adds -es in the genitive.
Viele Hausärzte nehmen keine neuen Patienten auf.
Many general practitioners are not accepting new patients.
Viele means many, keine neuen Patienten means no new patients, and aufnehmen means accept or take on. Hausärzte is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the separable verb appears as nehmen ... auf.
Der Hausarzt untersucht den Patienten.
The general practitioner examines the patient.
Untersucht means examines and den Patienten means the patient. Der Hausarzt is nominative as the subject, while den Patienten is accusative because it is the object of untersuchen.
Bei Beschwerden sollten Sie Ihren Hausarzt fragen.
If you have symptoms, you should ask your general practitioner.
Bei Beschwerden means if you have symptoms, and sollten means should. Bei requires the dative, while Ihren Hausarzt is accusative because fragen takes a direct object; the infinitive fragen goes to the end after sollten.
die Hautpflege — skincare; skin care
Hautpflege is usually an uncountable activity or area of care, so it normally has no plural. It combines Haut (skin) and Pflege (care).
Hautpflege ist mir wichtig.
Skincare is important to me.
wichtig means important, and mir means to me. Hautpflege is nominative because it is the subject; mir is dative with the expression wichtig sein.
Ich mache jeden Abend Hautpflege.
I do my skincare every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and machen means to do. Hautpflege is an uncountable accusative object after machen, so it normally has no article and no plural.
Meine Haut fühlt sich nach der Hautpflege weich an.
My skin feels soft after the skincare routine.
sich weich anfühlen means to feel soft, and nach means after. Der Hautpflege is dative because nach always takes the dative; the separable verb appears as fühlt ... an.
Die Wirkung der Hautpflege zeigt sich nach einigen Wochen.
The effect of the skincare shows after a few weeks.
die Wirkung means the effect, sich zeigen means to become apparent, and einige Wochen means a few weeks. Der Hautpflege is genitive because it identifies the skincare connected with the effect; sich belongs to sich zeigen.
Gute Hautpflege braucht nicht viel Zeit.
Good skincare does not need much time.
gut means good, brauchen means to need, nicht means not, and viel Zeit means much time. Hautpflege is a mass noun here, so it normally has no plural; the finite verb braucht stands in position two.
heilen — to heal, to cure
With a direct object, heilen means “to cure”: jemanden heilen or etwas heilen. Without an object, it can mean that a wound or illness heals; the reflexive form sich heilen is also possible but less common than genesen for a person recovering.
Die Ärztin heilt den Patienten.
The doctor cures the patient.
die Ärztin is a female doctor, and der Patient is a patient. Den Patienten is accusative because heilen takes the person being cured as its direct object; the finite verb heilt is in position two.
Die Ärztin hat den Patienten geheilt.
The doctor has cured the patient.
hat geheilt means “has cured,” and die Ärztin is a female doctor. Den Patienten is accusative because it is the object of heilen; the auxiliary hat is in position two and geheilt goes to the end.
Die Ärztin heilte den Patienten schnell.
The doctor cured the patient quickly.
schnell means quickly. Den Patienten is accusative because heilen takes a direct object, and the weak-verb past form heilte stands in position two.
Heil bitte diese Wunde!
Please heal this wound!
bitte means please, and die Wunde is the wound. Diese Wunde is accusative because it is the object of the command; the informal singular imperative uses the bare stem heil.
Wenn die Behandlung helfen würde, heilten die Wunden schneller.
If the treatment helped, the wounds would heal faster.
wenn means if, die Behandlung is the treatment, helfen means help, and schneller means faster. Heilten is Konjunktiv II in the unreal condition; it stands at the end of the wenn-clause, while the finite verb in the main clause follows normal position two.
Die Medizin wird die Krankheit bald heilen.
The medicine will cure the illness soon.
die Medizin is medicine, die Krankheit is the illness, and bald means soon. Die Krankheit is accusative because it is the object of heilen; wird is in position two and the infinitive heilen goes to the end.
hygienisch — hygienic, sanitary
hygienisch describes conditions that are clean and safe for health. It is a regular adjective: hygienischer, am hygienischsten; the opposite is unhygienisch.
Die Küche ist hygienisch.
The kitchen is hygienic.
die Küche means “the kitchen”. Hygienisch is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir brauchen eine hygienische Küche.
We need a hygienic kitchen.
brauchen means “need”, and eine Küche means “a kitchen”. Eine hygienische Küche is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; -e on hygienische agrees with the feminine accusative noun.
Diese Küche ist hygienischer als die alte.
This kitchen is more hygienic than the old one.
diese Küche means “this kitchen”, and die alte means “the old one”. Hygienischer is the comparative with -er, and als introduces the comparison; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Dieses Hotel ist am hygienischsten.
This hotel is the most hygienic.
dieses Hotel means “this hotel”. Am hygienischsten is the predicative superlative, formed with am and -sten; it has no adjective ending because it follows ist.
die Infektion — infection
die Infektion is the medical word for an infection caused by organisms such as bacteria or viruses. The common fixed expression leiden an takes the dative, as in an der Infektion.
Die Infektion ist nicht gefährlich.
The infection is not dangerous.
nicht gefährlich means not dangerous. Die Infektion is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two; nicht negates the adjective gefährlich.
Der Arzt behandelt die Infektion.
The doctor is treating the infection.
der Arzt means the doctor and behandelt means treats. die Infektion is accusative because behandeln takes a direct object; the finite verb behandelt is in position two.
Der Patient leidet an der Infektion.
The patient is suffering from the infection.
der Patient means the patient and leidet means suffers. The fixed expression leiden an takes an with the dative, so der Infektion is dative; the finite verb leidet is in position two.
Die Ursache der Infektion ist noch unklar.
The cause of the infection is still unclear.
die Ursache means the cause, noch means still, and unklar means unclear. der Infektion is genitive and means of the infection; it depends on die Ursache, while the finite verb ist is in position two.
Mehrere Infektionen wurden im Krankenhaus behandelt.
Several infections were treated in the hospital.
mehrere means several, wurden behandelt means were treated, and das Krankenhaus means the hospital. Infektionen is plural nominative and the subject of the passive sentence; wurden is in position two and behandelt goes to the end.
die Klinik — clinic, hospital
Die Klinik often refers to a specialised hospital, such as a university or psychiatric hospital. For a doctor's office or small outpatient practice, German commonly uses die Praxis.
Die Klinik liegt am Stadtrand.
The clinic is on the edge of the city.
liegt means is located, and am Stadtrand means on the edge of the city. Die Klinik is nominative because it is the subject, and liegt is in position two.
Wir besuchen die Klinik.
We are visiting the clinic.
wir means we, and besuchen means to visit. Die Klinik is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the feminine article remains die.
Sie arbeitet in der Klinik.
She works in the clinic.
sie arbeitet means she works. In takes the dative here because arbeitet describes a fixed location, so der Klinik is dative.
Die Ärzte der Klinik helfen vielen Menschen.
The doctors of the clinic help many people.
die Ärzte means the doctors, and vielen Menschen means many people. Der Klinik is genitive and shows possession, while Menschen is dative because helfen takes the dative.
In der Stadt gibt es zwei Kliniken.
There are two clinics in the city.
in der Stadt means in the city, and zwei means two. Kliniken is the plural with -en; after es gibt, the plural noun is accusative.
die Krankenkasse — health-insurance fund, health-insurance company
The German public-health system uses die Krankenkasse for an insurer that pays for covered treatment. Do not translate it literally as “sick cash desk”; Kasse here means an insurance fund.
Die Krankenkasse bezahlt die Behandlung.
The health-insurance fund pays for the treatment.
bezahlt means “pays,” and die Behandlung means “the treatment.” Die Krankenkasse is nominative because it is the subject, while die Behandlung is accusative because it is the direct object; bezahlt is in position two.
Ich rufe die Krankenkasse heute an.
I am calling the health-insurance fund today.
heute means “today,” and anrufen means “to call.” Die Krankenkasse is accusative because anrufen takes a direct object; rufe is in position two and the separable prefix an goes to the end.
Wir schicken der Krankenkasse die Rechnung.
We send the bill to the health-insurance fund.
schicken means “send” and die Rechnung means “the bill.” Der Krankenkasse is dative because it is the recipient, while die Rechnung is accusative; the finite verb schicken stands in position two.
Die Entscheidung der Krankenkasse kommt morgen.
The health-insurance fund’s decision comes tomorrow.
die Entscheidung is the decision and kommt morgen means “comes tomorrow.” Der Krankenkasse is genitive and shows whose decision it is; the finite verb kommt is in position two.
Viele Krankenkassen bieten eine App an.
Many health-insurance funds offer an app.
viele means “many,” bieten means “offer,” and eine App means “an app.” Krankenkassen is plural and is the subject; in bieten ... an, the prefix an is separated and goes to the end.
der Krankenpfleger — male nurse, male nursing professional
Krankenpfleger specifically refers to a male nurse; the gender-neutral professional term is Pflegefachkraft. The plural is identical in spelling to the singular, so the article or another determiner is important.
Der Krankenpfleger hilft dem Patienten.
The male nurse helps the patient.
hilft means “helps” and der Patient means “the patient.” Der Krankenpfleger is nominative because he is the subject, while dem Patienten is dative because helfen always takes a dative person; hilft is in position two.
Die Klinik sucht den Krankenpfleger.
The clinic is looking for the male nurse.
die Klinik is the clinic and sucht means “is looking for.” Den Krankenpfleger is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; this noun is not a weak noun, so it does not change to Krankenpflegern in the accusative singular.
Ich spreche mit dem Krankenpfleger.
I am speaking with the male nurse.
spreche means “speak” and mit means “with.” Dem Krankenpfleger is dative because mit always governs the dative; the finite verb spreche stands in position two.
Das Büro des Krankenpflegers ist neben der Station.
The male nurse’s office is next to the ward.
das Büro is the office, neben means “next to,” and die Station is the ward. Des Krankenpflegers is genitive and shows possession; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Krankenpfleger besprechen den Notfall.
The nurses discuss the emergency.
besprechen means “discuss” and der Notfall means “the emergency.” Krankenpfleger is plural because it refers to several male nurses; the group is nominative, while den Notfall is accusative as the object.