2.2.3 Visiting the doctor

Table of Contents

Understanding a Basic Doctor’s Visit in German

Visiting a doctor in a German speaking country can feel stressful if you do not know the typical words and phrases. In this chapter, you will learn how a simple appointment usually works, which basic questions you can expect, and how you can describe your problem in very simple, clear German.

Before the Appointment

In many situations you will need an appointment, especially for a regular doctor visit. In emergencies, you often go directly to the hospital or to the emergency service, but ordinary visits are usually planned.

You may hear or use simple phrases such as “Ich habe einen Termin” at the reception. You can give your name and maybe show your health insurance card. You do not need complicated grammar here, but you should understand and use a few key words.

Important pattern:
“Ich habe einen Termin.” = “I have an appointment.”
“Ich habe …” + noun is a very common pattern when you talk about appointments or documents.

Sometimes the receptionist may ask for your health insurance card. You can then hand it over and answer with a simple “Ja” or “Hier”.

At the Reception

When you enter the practice or clinic, you usually speak first to the receptionist, not directly to the doctor. You say who you are and why you are there. Even with very simple German this is possible.

Short dialogues at the reception can look like this:

Receptionist: “Guten Tag. Haben Sie einen Termin?”
You: “Guten Tag. Ja, ich habe einen Termin um zehn Uhr.”

Or, if you do not have an appointment:

You: “Guten Tag. Ich habe keinen Termin. Mir geht es nicht gut.”

You might also be asked to wait.

Typical phrases from staff:

“Ich brauche Ihre Versichertenkarte.”
“Bitte nehmen Sie im Wartezimmer Platz.”
“Der Arzt kommt gleich.”

You answer with simple polite phrases that you already know, like “Bitte” and “Danke”.

Meeting the Doctor

When the doctor comes, they might call your last name in the waiting room. Then you go into the treatment room. The doctor usually starts with a greeting and then asks, “Was fehlt Ihnen?” or “Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?”

These are typical opening questions:

“Was fehlt Ihnen?”
“Was haben Sie?”
“Wo tut es weh?”
“Seit wann haben Sie die Schmerzen?”

You do not need full, long sentences in your answer. Short, clear sentences are perfectly fine, especially at A2 level. The doctor is used to speaking with people who do not speak perfect German.

Describing Symptoms Simply

To visit the doctor, you need some very common words for pain and feeling unwell. You use “Ich habe …” for many symptoms and “Mir ist …” for some general feelings.

Common pattern with “haben”:

“Ich habe Kopfschmerzen.”
“Ich habe Halsschmerzen.”
“Ich habe Fieber.”
“Ich habe Husten.”
“Ich habe Schnupfen.”

Common pattern with “sein” and “mir”:

“Mir ist schlecht.”
“Mir ist schwindlig.”
“Mir ist kalt / warm.”

You can also use “tut weh” to talk about pain in one part of your body:

“Mein Kopf tut weh.”
“Mein Rücken tut weh.”
“Mein Bauch tut weh.”

Important patterns for symptoms:
“Ich habe …” + symptom.
“Mir ist …” + adjective.
“Mein / Meine … tut weh.” for pain in a body part.

At A2 level, do not worry about long explanations. Use short, clear patterns.

Talking About Duration and Intensity

Doctors often want to know how long you have had a symptom and how strong the pain is. Simple time expressions are enough.

To talk about duration, you can use “seit” or “seit gestern / seit zwei Tagen”:

“Seit wann haben Sie die Schmerzen?”
“Seit gestern.”
“Seit zwei Tagen.”
“Seit einer Woche.”

To describe how strong something is, you can use easy adjectives:

“Die Schmerzen sind leicht.”
“Die Schmerzen sind stark.”
“Es ist sehr schlimm.”
“Es ist nicht so schlimm.”

You do not need to explain everything in detail. If necessary, you can also use your hands or show the place on your body.

Common Questions from the Doctor

The doctor often asks similar questions, especially in simple consultations. It helps to understand these patterns, so you can answer without panic.

Typical yes/no questions:

“Haben Sie Fieber?”
“Haben Sie Husten?”
“Haben Sie Allergien?”
“Nehmen Sie Medikamente?”
“Rauchen Sie?”
“Trinken Sie Alkohol?”

You can answer with “Ja” or “Nein” and then add a short sentence if you want:

“Ja, ich habe leichtes Fieber.”
“Nein, ich nehme keine Medikamente.”
“Ja, ich rauche.”

Physical Examination: What You May Hear

During the examination the doctor often gives short instructions. At A2 level, you learn to recognize these simple phrases. They are usually in the imperative form, but you do not need to know grammar here, only meaning.

Typical instructions:

“Bitte atmen Sie tief ein.”
“Bitte atmen Sie aus.”
“Öffnen Sie den Mund, bitte.”
“Sagen Sie ‘Ah’.”
“Legen Sie sich bitte hin.”
“Setzen Sie sich bitte.”
“Drehen Sie sich bitte um.”
“Bitte machen Sie den Oberkörper frei.”

You can follow these instructions step by step. If you do not understand, you can say:

“Entschuldigung, ich habe nicht verstanden.”
“Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?”

Understanding Diagnosis and Recommendations

At the end of the visit, the doctor says what they think you have and what you should do. At A2 level, you focus on simple key words.

You might hear:

“Sie haben eine Erkältung.”
“Sie haben eine Grippe.”
“Sie haben eine Magenverstimmung.”
“Es ist nichts Schlimmes.”
“Sie brauchen Ruhe.”
“Sie sollen viel trinken.”
“Sie sollen im Bett bleiben.”

You can ask very simple confirmation questions:

“Ist es ernst?”
“Muss ich ins Krankenhaus?”
“Darf ich arbeiten?”
“Darf ich Sport machen?”

If you did not understand, it is totally okay to ask again in simple German. Doctors in German speaking countries are used to this.

Talking About Medicine and Prescriptions

In many cases, the doctor will prescribe medicine or recommend something from the pharmacy.

Typical phrases from the doctor:

“Ich verschreibe Ihnen Tabletten.”
“Sie bekommen ein Rezept.”
“Nehmen Sie die Tabletten dreimal täglich.”
“Nehmen Sie eine Tablette morgens und eine abends.”
“Trinken Sie viel Wasser.”
“Wenn es nicht besser wird, kommen Sie bitte wieder.”

At the pharmacy, you can show your prescription and say:

“Ich brauche dieses Medikament, bitte.”
Or simply: “Guten Tag, ich habe ein Rezept.”

Important pattern with medicine:
“Nehmen Sie …” + amount + time.
Example: “Nehmen Sie eine Tablette dreimal täglich.”

If you have allergies or cannot take a certain medicine, you can say:

“Ich bin allergisch gegen Penicillin.”
“Ich vertrage dieses Medikament nicht.”

Getting a Sick Note for Work or School

In German speaking countries, you often need a document from the doctor if you are too ill for work or school. This is called a “Krankschreibung” or “Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung.”

You can ask:

“Bekomme ich eine Krankschreibung?”
“Bekomme ich eine Krankmeldung für die Arbeit / für die Schule?”

The doctor may say:

“Ich schreibe Sie für drei Tage krank.”
“Sie bekommen eine Krankmeldung bis Freitag.”

This is important for your employer or for your school, but you only need to understand that it is an official paper for your absence.

Expressing Worries and Asking Simple Follow up Questions

Sometimes you feel worried or afraid when you are ill. Simple sentences help you to communicate your feelings and ask what to do next.

You can say:

“Ich mache mir Sorgen.”
“Ich habe Angst.”
“Ich verstehe das nicht.”

And simple follow up questions:

“Was soll ich tun?”
“Was darf ich nicht machen?”
“Wann soll ich wiederkommen?”
“Brauche ich eine Kontrolle?”

These questions help you get clear instructions in easy language. Many doctors will then speak more slowly and use simple words.

New Vocabulary for This Chapter

German	English
der Arzt / die Ärztin	doctor (male / female)
die Praxis	doctor’s office, practice
das Krankenhaus	hospital
die Klinik	clinic
der Termin	appointment
der Patient / die Patientin	patient (male / female)
die Versichertenkarte	health insurance card
das Wartezimmer	waiting room
die Sprechstunde	consultation hours
die Untersuchung	examination, check-up
das Rezept	prescription
das Medikament	medicine, medication
die Tablette	tablet, pill
der Hustensaft	cough syrup
die Salbe	ointment, cream
die Tropfen	drops
die Spritze	injection
die Krankschreibung	sick note, medical certificate
die Krankmeldung	sick note (for work, school)
die Erkältung	common cold
die Grippe	flu
das Fieber	fever
der Husten	cough
der Schnupfen	runny nose, cold
die Schmerzen (Plural)	pains
die Kopfschmerzen	headache
die Halsschmerzen	sore throat
die Bauchschmerzen	stomach ache
die Rückenschmerzen	back pain
die Übelkeit	nausea
der Schwindel	dizziness
die Allergie	allergy
die Magenverstimmung	upset stomach
der Notfall	emergency
die Notaufnahme	emergency room
die Apotheke	pharmacy
die Behandlung	treatment
die Kontrolle	check-up, follow-up
der Rat	advice
der Alkohol	alcohol
das Antibiotikum	antibiotic
die Nebenwirkung	side effect
die Temperatur messen	to take temperature
atmen	to breathe
einatmen	to breathe in
ausatmen	to breathe out
untersuchen	to examine
verschreiben	to prescribe
empfehlen	to recommend
sich Sorgen machen	to worry
krank	ill, sick
gesund	healthy
schlimm	bad, serious
leicht	light, mild
stark	strong, severe
schwindlig	dizzy
schlecht (Mir ist schlecht.)	sick, nauseous (I feel sick.)
der Hals	throat
der Bauch	stomach, belly
der Rücken	back
der Kopf	head
die Brust	chest
der Arm	arm
das Bein	leg
der Fuß	foot
die Hand	hand
die Schmerzen sind stark	the pain is strong
Was fehlt Ihnen?	What is wrong with you?
Wo tut es weh?	Where does it hurt?
Seit wann?	Since when?
Mir geht es nicht gut.	I do not feel well.
Mir ist schwindlig.	I feel dizzy.
Mir ist schlecht.	I feel sick.
Ich habe Fieber.	I have a fever.
Ich habe Husten.	I have a cough.
Mein Kopf tut weh.	My head hurts.
Bitte atmen Sie tief ein.	Please breathe in deeply.
Nehmen Sie die Tabletten dreimal täglich.	Take the tablets three times a day.
Wenn es nicht besser wird, kommen Sie bitte wieder.	If it does not get better, please come again.

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