My First Cold: Learning to Talk About Feeling Sick in Germany

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin, and let’s just say I’ve learned a lot about winter. Not just the amazing Christmas markets (which are incredible, seriously), but also the brutal, bone-chilling cold and, unfortunately, a whole lot of colds. Before moving, I’d crammed a few German phrases about sickness, but actually using them when I’m feeling rubbish is proving to be a whole other challenge. Today, I want to share what I’ve learned – specifically, how to talk about feeling ill using the dreaded “weh tun” structures.

The “Weh Tun” – It’s Not as Scary as it Sounds

Honestly, the first time I heard “weh tun” in a German health context, I panicked. It sounded so… direct. Like, you were just telling someone you were in pain. But it’s not just about pain. It’s about describing symptoms, and it’s surprisingly useful. “Weh tun” basically means “it hurts” or “it feels bad.” It’s the basis for describing almost any physical discomfort.

The structure is: “Es tut weh…” (It hurts…). You then add what is hurting.

My First Conversation – A Disaster (and a Lesson!)

Last week, I woke up with a terrible cough and a sore throat. I went to Apotheke (pharmacy) to get something for it. The pharmacist, a really nice older gentleman named Herr Schmidt, asked, “Was tut weh?” (What hurts?). I, in my typical panicked newbie way, blurted out, “Mein Kopf tut weh!” (My head hurts!).

He looked at me with a slightly confused expression. “Ihr Kopf tut weh?” (Your head hurts?). I nodded frantically. He then proceeded to give me a nasal spray for my nose – because apparently, I had told him my head was hurting! It took a good five minutes and a lot of gesturing to explain that I meant my throat. The whole experience was mortifying, but it hammered home the importance of being precise.

Key Vocabulary for Feeling Sick

Let’s get down to the practical stuff. Here’s some vocabulary I’ve found myself using (and needing to use) regularly:

• Der Hals tut weh: My throat hurts. (Hals = throat)
• Die Nase tut weh: My nose hurts. (Nase = nose)
• Die Kehle tut weh: My throat hurts (specifically, like when you’re talking a lot – Kehle = throat)
• Der Bauch tut weh: My stomach hurts. (Bauch = stomach)
• Ich habe Fieber: I have a fever. (Fieber = fever)
• Ich habe Husten: I have a cough. (Husten = cough)
• Ich habe Halsschmerzen: I have sore throat. (Halsschmerzen = sore throat)
• Ich fühle mich schlecht: I feel bad. (Fühlen = to feel, schlecht = bad)

Adding Details – “Es tut wirklich weh” and “Es tut weh stark”

You can make your descriptions even more accurate by adding extra details. “Es tut weh” alone is fine, but you can intensify it.

• “Es tut wirklich weh!” (It really hurts!) – This is a super useful phrase to show you’re genuinely uncomfortable.
• “Es tut weh stark!” (It hurts really badly!) – More emphatic!

I used this one last week when I had a migraine. I said, “Es tut weh, wirklich stark!” (It hurts, really badly!). Herr Schmidt nodded and immediately gave me some ibuprofen. Small victories!

Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

I’ve made a few other mistakes along the way. A common one is forgetting the “es” before “tut.” It’s easily overlooked when you’re thinking about the grammar. Another is assuming “weh” is always about physical pain. Sometimes it’s used more generally to express discomfort.

• Don’t: “Mein Herz tut weh!” (My heart hurts!) – This is fine as an expression of sadness, but not as a symptom.

• Do: “Es tut weh, dass ich krank bin!” (It hurts that I am sick!).

Moving Forward – Practicing and Asking for Help

The best way to get better at this is to just use it. Next time I’m feeling under the weather, I’m going to force myself to say, “Mein Hals tut weh” instead of panicking and just pointing. And if I really mess up, like I did with Herr Schmidt, I’ll politely ask someone to correct me. There’s no shame in admitting you’re still learning. Seriously, asking “Bitte können Sie mir helfen, das zu sagen?” (Please can you help me say that?) is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.

Honestly, learning to talk about illness in German is proving to be a surprisingly important part of integrating here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to lie down… and maybe remember to say “Es tut weh, mein Hals!” correctly this time.