Visiting a German Doctor — Key Phrases
After this lesson you can book an appointment and explain what hurts.
Do this first: Dativ
Übungen
Eight exercises on what you just watched. Get 80% and the lesson is marked done and added to your A1 progress.
1 / 8 · Type the missing word
2 / 8 · Type the missing word
3 / 8 · Word order
Put the words in the right order.
I would like to make an appointment.
4 / 8 · Word order
Put the words in the right order.
I have had a temperature for three days.
5 / 8 · Choose
What is die Versichertenkarte?
6 / 8 · Choose
How do you say "I'd like to make an appointment"?
7 / 8 · Choose
What does wehtun mean?
8 / 8 · Choose
Which is correct?
In short
Book with Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren. Describe the problem with Ich habe … or the dative construction Mein Hals tut weh — "my throat hurts". Bring your Versichertenkarte (insurance card); you will be asked for it before anything else.
How it works
A German doctor's visit runs in a fixed order, and the first thing you will be asked for is your Versichertenkarte — the insurance card. Without it you may be treated as a self-payer, so it comes out before the coat.
There are two ways to say what is wrong, and you already know both. Ich habe plus a symptom, as at the pharmacy: Ich habe Fieber, Ich habe Halsschmerzen. Or the dative construction with wehtun: Mein Hals tut weh, Der Rücken tut mir weh — literally "the back hurts to me". This is the dative from lesson 39 doing everyday work.
Two more things to expect. Seit wann? — since when — will be asked, and the answer uses seit plus the dative: seit drei Tagen, seit einer Woche. And you may leave with two pieces of paper: das Rezept (prescription) and die Krankschreibung or AU — the sick note you give your employer, which German employers genuinely require.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren. | I'd like to make an appointment. |
| Haben Sie heute noch etwas frei? | Do you have anything free today? |
| Ich bin neu hier. | I'm new here. |
| Hier ist meine Versichertenkarte. | Here is my insurance card. |
| Ich bin privat versichert. | I have private insurance. |
| Es ist dringend. | It's urgent. |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich habe Fieber. | I have a temperature. |
| Mein Hals tut weh. | My throat hurts. |
| Der Rücken tut mir weh. | My back hurts. |
| Mir ist schwindelig. | I feel dizzy. |
| Ich fühle mich nicht gut. | I don't feel well. |
| Seit drei Tagen. | For three days. |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Seit wann haben Sie das? | How long have you had it? |
| Wo tut es weh? | Where does it hurt? |
| Nehmen Sie Medikamente? | Do you take any medication? |
| das Rezept | prescription |
| die Krankschreibung / AU | sick note for your employer |
| die Überweisung | referral to a specialist |
Examples
- Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren.I would like to make an appointment.
- Hier ist meine Versichertenkarte.Here is my insurance card.
- Ich habe seit drei Tagen Fieber.I have had a temperature for three days.
- Mein Hals tut weh.My throat hurts.
- Der Rücken tut mir weh.My back hurts.
- Mir ist schwindelig.I feel dizzy.
- Ich fühle mich nicht gut.I don't feel well.
- Brauche ich eine Krankschreibung?Do I need a sick note?
- Nehmen Sie Medikamente?Do you take any medication?
- Ich bin gegen Penicillin allergisch.I'm allergic to penicillin.
Mistakes to avoid
✗ Turning up without the Versichertenkarte
✓ Bringing it every time
It is the first thing asked for. Without it you may be billed privately and have to reclaim.
✗ Mein Hals weh tut.
✓ Mein Hals tut weh.
wehtun splits — tut goes in position two and weh to the end, exactly like a separable verb.
✗ seit drei Tage
✓ seit drei Tagen
seit takes the dative, and the dative plural adds -n. seit einer Woche, seit drei Tagen.
✗ Telling your employer verbally
✓ Getting the Krankschreibung
German employers are entitled to a written sick note, usually from day three but often earlier. The doctor issues it; it is not optional paperwork.
Wortschatz
The words from this lesson.
| der Arzt / die Ärztin | doctor | |
| die Praxis | doctor's surgery | |
| der Termin | appointment | |
| die Versichertenkarte | health insurance card | |
| wehtun | to hurt | separable |
| die Krankschreibung | sick note | |
| die Überweisung | referral | |
| krank | ill | |
| gesund | healthy | |
| das Wartezimmer | waiting room |
Kulturnotiz
Two things differ sharply from the UK or US. You go straight to a specialist — an Augenarzt or Orthopäde — without a referral in most cases, though a Hausarzt (GP) is still your first stop for general problems. And the Krankschreibung is a formal document, not a courtesy: you are legally protected while signed off, and you send it to your employer rather than explaining yourself. Note also that many practices close on Wednesday afternoons.
Common questions
+What do I need to bring?
Your Versichertenkarte — the health insurance card. It is requested before anything else, and without it you may be treated as a private payer.
+How do I say something hurts?
Two ways: Ich habe Halsschmerzen, or the dative construction Mein Hals tut weh / Der Rücken tut mir weh. Both are completely normal.
+What is a Krankschreibung?
The official sick note (also called an AU — Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung) that you give your employer. German employers are entitled to it, and it protects your position while you are off.
+Do I need a referral to see a specialist?
Usually not — you can book directly with most specialists. A Hausarzt is still the sensible first stop for anything general, and will issue an Überweisung if one is needed.