My First Steps with ‘Sollte’: Giving Health Advice in Germany

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin, and I’m finally starting to feel…comfortable. Mostly. There’s still a constant low-level anxiety about saying the wrong thing, making a mistake, or just generally messing up the language. I’ve been taking a German course, of course, but honestly, the biggest gap for me is just actually using the language in real situations. And recently, I’ve been volunteering at a local community center, helping with a health information event – and that’s where I really started to grapple with ‘sollte’.

The ‘Sollte’ Struggle – It’s More Than Just “Should”

‘Sollte’ is a tricky one. I knew it meant “should,” but the way Germans use it, especially when giving advice, felt completely different from how I used it back home. It’s not just a polite suggestion; it carries a much stronger sense of obligation, or at least, what should be done. Honestly, I felt completely lost at first. My initial attempts at offering advice always came across as…well, forceful, maybe even a little judgmental.

My First Encounter: Frau Schmidt and the Cough

The first real test came during the health event. A lovely older woman, Frau Schmidt, was complaining about a persistent cough. I was trying to be helpful, armed with my rusty German and my desperate desire to appear competent.

“Sie sollten mehr Tee trinken,” I said confidently. “Sie sollten viel Tee trinken!”

She looked at me, utterly bewildered. “Aber, warum?” she asked, clearly confused. “Why?” I realized I hadn’t explained why she should drink more tea. It just sounded like a demand.

A volunteer gently corrected me. “Es ist besser, wenn Sie sagen: ‘Sie sollten Tee trinken, weil es Ihnen helfen kann.’” (It’s better if you say: ‘You should drink tea, because it can help you.’) The difference was huge. ‘Sollte’ alone felt…wrong.

Understanding the Nuances with Examples

Let’s break down some more common scenarios. It’s not just about saying ‘sollte’ followed by a verb. You need context.

• “Sie sollten sich ausruhen.” (You should rest.) – This is a general recommendation for someone who looks tired.
• “Wenn Sie Schmerzen haben, sollten Sie einen Arzt aufsuchen.” (If you have pain, you should see a doctor.) – This is a slightly stronger recommendation, implying a definite action should be taken.
• “Sollten Sie sich nicht besser fühlen, rufen Sie bitte einen Arzt.” (If you don’t feel better, please call a doctor.) – This is a clear instruction, almost a directive.

Notice how the added explanations (“weil es Ihnen helfen kann,” “wenn Sie Schmerzen haben”) make the advice sound much more considerate and helpful.

My Own Mistakes – And How I Learned

I made so many other mistakes. I once told a man he “sollte mehr Sport machen” (you should do more sports) without any context. He stared at me, horrified! Apparently, he was already running five times a week. The volunteer quickly intervened and explained that I needed to understand his current activity level before offering advice.

Another time, I tried to advise someone with a headache: “Sollten Sie Kopfschmerzen haben, nehmen Sie Aspirin.” (If you have headaches, take aspirin.) It sounded harsh! I quickly learned that asking “Haben Sie Kopfschmerzen?” (Do you have a headache?) and then offering to get some aspirin was a much more appropriate approach.

Key Phrases and Building Confidence

Here are some key phrases to remember, alongside the ‘sollte’:

• “Es ist wichtig, dass…” (It’s important that…) – This is great for adding emphasis.
• “Wenn Sie…sollte…” (If you…should…) – Connects the condition with the advice.
• “Ich rate Ihnen, dass…” (I advise you to…) – More formal and polite.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Clarification!

Seriously, this was the biggest thing I learned. German people, especially when giving advice, appreciate it when you acknowledge that you’re not an expert. Asking “Wie sollte ich das machen?” (How should I do this?) or “Was können Sie mir raten?” (What advice can you give me?) is perfectly acceptable and actually demonstrates respect.

It’s a process, I know. But with a little practice, and a lot of listening, I’m slowly starting to understand the subtle art of giving (and receiving!) health advice with ‘sollte’ in Germany. And honestly, that’s a small victory in a big, sometimes overwhelming, adventure.