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

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin, and things are…well, they’re complicated. I’ve managed to build a little life for myself – I have a job at the bookstore, I’m slowly learning to navigate the U-Bahn, and I’m even starting to understand some of the conversations around me. But there’s one area where I’m still absolutely struggling: talking about being sick. It’s not the language itself – I can understand most of it – it’s the way people talk about it, and the sheer number of words for everything!

The Initial Panic: A Visit to the Arzt

It started last week. I woke up with a terrible cough and a really stuffy nose. Naturally, I panicked. My first thought was, “Okay, I need Arzt.” I’d heard so much about der Arzt – the doctor – and the whole system seemed so…serious.

I called the Praxis (the doctor’s office) and spoke to a woman named Frau Schmidt. She asked me, in this very efficient German, “Was ist denn los?” (What’s wrong?). Honestly, I just blurted out, “Ich fühle mich schlecht!” (I feel bad!). She then proceeded to ask a lot of questions, and I realized I hadn’t actually thought about why I felt bad.

Essential Vocabulary – Let’s Get Specific

That’s when I realized I needed to learn some specific words. Frau Schmidt kept using terms like “die Symptome” (the symptoms). So, I started making a list. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Der Kopfschmerz (Headache) – I definitely had one!
• Die Erkältung (Cold) – Obvious, right?
• Die Nase läuft (My nose is running) – This is apparently very common to say.
• Ich habe Husten (I have a cough) – I was so embarrassed about this!
• Mir ist schwindelig (I feel dizzy) – I felt a little wobbly.
• Der Hals tut weh (My throat hurts) – A scratchy sensation.
• Ich habe Fieber (I have a fever) – I thankfully didn’t, but it’s good to know.
• Ich bin zuhause (I am at home) – Crucial for explaining my absence from work!

Practice Conversations – It’s Not Just Words

I decided to practice talking about it with my colleague, Klaus. It went something like this:

Me: “Klaus, ich habe eine Erkältung. Mir ist die Nase voll und ich habe Husten.” (Klaus, I have a cold. My nose is running and I have a cough.)

Klaus: “Oh, das tut mir leid! Hast du Fieber?” (Oh, I’m sorry to hear that! Do you have a fever?)

Me: “Nein, kein Fieber. Aber ich fühle mich sehr müde.” (No, no fever. But I feel very tired.)

Klaus: “Dann musst du unbedingt Ruhe! Mach dir einen Tee mit Honig.” (Then you absolutely must rest! Make yourself some tea with honey.)

It wasn’t perfect, but it worked! I realized that even just saying “Mir ist die Nase voll” was enough to explain what was happening.

A Small Misunderstanding – And a Helpful Correction

The next day, I went back to the Praxis. This time, I was more prepared. I described my symptoms clearly, but I still stumbled over the words. Frau Schmidt, after listening carefully, said, “Sie sollten sich ausruhen und viel trinken. Und versuchen Sie, den Husten zu unterdrücken!” (You should rest and drink a lot. And try to suppress the cough!).

I realised “unterdrücken” is a useful word. I asked her to repeat it slowly – “Unterdrücken – to suppress”. It felt a little awkward, but she explained that it’s common advice, and I took her advice and drank lots of warm tea.

Key Phrases to Remember

Here’s a quick recap of the phrases I’ve found most useful:

• “Ich fühle mich…” (I feel…) – This is your starting point.
• “Was ist denn los?” (What’s wrong?) – Be prepared for this question!
• “Mir ist…schlecht.” (I feel…bad.) – A simple way to start.
• “Ich brauche einen Arzt.” (I need a doctor.) – Don’t be afraid to ask.

Learning to talk about feeling sick in German is definitely a work in progress, but I’m getting there. It’s all about building my vocabulary and practicing – and accepting that “Mir ist die Nase voll” is totally acceptable to say! Ich hoffe, das hilft! (I hope this helps!)