🩺German for nurses & care workers

Care work (Pflege) is one of the most in-demand jobs in Germany, Switzerland and Austria — and the German you need is very specific. Here are the phrases you use with patients and colleagues every shift, plus the vocabulary that gets you there.

Key phrases on the job

Wie geht es Ihnen heute?How are you today?

Haben Sie Schmerzen?Are you in pain?

Ich helfe Ihnen beim Aufstehen.I’ll help you get up.

Nehmen Sie bitte Ihre Medikamente.Please take your medication.

Ich messe kurz Ihren Blutdruck.I’ll quickly measure your blood pressure.

Können Sie mir Bescheid geben, wenn etwas ist?Can you let me know if anything’s wrong?

Ich übergebe an die Spätschicht.I’m handing over to the late shift.

Bleiben Sie ruhig, ich bin gleich zurück.Stay calm, I’ll be right back.

Vocabulary you need

Build the core words for this job — each list is free to browse and download (CSV or Anki):

Body & Health (A1)Work & Education (A1)Time & Dates (A1)

Learn it faster — free

Test yourself with a quick quiz on these words, then watch real German videos with dual subtitles so the phrases stick in context — tap any word to learn it.

Take a free quiz →Add to Chrome — Free

Frequently asked questions

What German level do nurses need in Germany?

Regulated care roles usually require B1–B2 German, plus profession-specific vocabulary. B1 is the common minimum for recognition of foreign nursing qualifications.

How do I learn German medical vocabulary fast?

Start with the Body & Health word list, drill it with spaced repetition, and watch German care/health videos with dual subtitles so the terms stick in context.

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