Visiting a Doctor

It’s one thing to chat over coffee, but explaining how you feel in German can be tricky. Don’t worry — we’ve gathered some key phrases and terms to help you through your next visit, from making an appointment to describing what’s wrong.

Making an appointment

A typical conversation to make an appointment will be as follows:

Hello, my name is Mrs xxx, and I would like to make an appointment with Dr xxx, please. – Hallo, mein Name ist Frau xxx und ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren
Are you a patient with us – Sind Sie Patient bei uns?
Yes or No. If not, they will ask for your details. They will also ask if you are on public or private medical insurance.
They will most likely ask what is wrong and whether it is an emergency (Notfall)
They will tell you when the next appointment is available. If it is not an emergency, have a date ready that suits you so you can ask if they can see you then. There are different ways they can say it to you, just listen for the date and time. – an example “der nächste freie Termin ist am 15. Januar um 10:00 Uhr”
You can respond with “das passt, danke” if you are happy with the time and date
If it is an emergency, please refer to our Emergencies page. There are also some emergency phrases you can use

Some common ailments

English	German / Notes
I have injured myself.	Ich habe mich verletzt.
I have an injury on my left arm.	Ich habe eine Verletzung am linken Arm.
I had an accident.	Ich hatte einen Unfall.
I have a headache / fever.	Ich habe Kopfschmerzen / Fieber.
I have a sore throat. You can find a good lexicon on flu here.	Ich habe Halsschmerzen.
I have a cold.	Ich habe eine Erkältung.
I have pain.	Ich habe Schmerzen.
I am feeling sick.	Mir ist schlecht.

At the Doctor's consulting room

You must report at reception. A typical phrase would be – Hallo mein Name ist Frau xxx, ich habe um 10 Uhr einen Termin.
You will most like be asked to wait in the waiting room (das Wartezimmer) – warten Sie bitte im Wartezimmer
You will be called by name when the doctor can see you.

Your consultation

Most doctors can understand basic English so if you really struggle ask if you can describe your symptoms in English.
Have a look at the Terminology pages to help you prepare to describe your body parts in Germany.

If you are referred to a specialist (Facharzt) you will be given a Überweisung.
If you need medicine (Medikamente), you will be given a Rezept which you must take to the Pharmacy (Apotheke).

Sick leave

You do not have to tell your manager or HR department what is wrong with you when you are on sick leave.
You have to let your employer know that you are ill, even if you do not to the doctor.
If you receive a sicknote, (Krankschreibung/Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung/Gelbe Zettel) you have to submit it to your employer as soon as possible, please also refer to your company’s rules. As of 2023 your doctor will send a digital sick note (elektronischen Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigun or eAU) to your Medical insurance. Your employer will have access to this data. – currently only for public health insurance, private soon to follow.
You can let them know “ich bin krank geschrieben, und werde am 22. Juli wieder im Büro sein”

Tip – Always refer to your employment contract for your company rules and regulations.

“Grundsätzlich gilt gemäß Gesetz, dass bei einer Krankheit, die voraussichtlich länger als drei Tage dauert, eine ärztliche Bescheinigung vorgelegt werden muss, um der Nachweispflicht entsprechend nachzukommen. Diese sollte spätestens am vierten Tag der Krankheit beim Arbeitgeber liegen. Wie Sie dies bewerkstelligen, obliegt Ihnen. In diesem Zusammenhang sind die Kalender- und nicht die Arbeitstage entscheidend.” – Arbeitsrechte

In Germany, you are entitled to 6 weeks of paid sick leave

Disclaimer – The information on this page is based on personal experiences and research, we are not qualified to give any legal advice and we do not accept any form of liability resulting from reading this article.

Using AI to help you describe your symptoms

Here is prompt you can use

Remember AI is just a tool

Using AI can help you prepare what to say, especially in a different language. However, it is not a medical professional and may not fully understand your symptoms or situation.

Always:
• Describe your symptoms in your own words as well
• Tell the doctor if anything feels incorrect or incomplete
• Ask questions if you are unsure

This tool is meant to support communication — not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Here is prompt you can use

I am visiting a doctor in Germany and need help explaining my symptoms in simple German.

Please translate and structure this clearly so I can say it to the doctor. Keep the language natural, polite, and easy to understand (A2–B1 level). Also include:

A short main sentence describing the problem
Bullet points with key details
2–3 follow-up answers I might need
2–3 questions I can ask the doctor

Here is my situation:

What is the main problem or symptom (e.g. pain, fever, swelling, nausea, etc.):
Where is it (if applicable):
What does it feel like (sharp, dull, burning, pressure, etc.):
When did it start:
Has it changed (getting worse, spreading, constant, etc.):
Any visible signs (redness, swelling, pus, rash, colour change, etc.):
Pain level (1–10, if relevant):
Other symptoms (fever, tiredness, dizziness, etc.):
Anything that makes it better or worse:
Relevant medical history or conditions:

South Africans in Germany