German - Doctor Visit

Lesson 114 of 158

Learner at a doctor's office practicing German phrases for symptoms and treatment.

Goal: Talk about symptoms and treatment

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready for a practical, real-life B1 lesson? Today we practice common phrases for a visit to the doctor. Speak, listen, and use these frames in a real consultation.

Level B1: In this lesson you'll learn useful German phrases to describe symptoms, say how long they've lasted, report pain, and ask about medicine and seriousness. We'll practice short frames like “Ich habe seit ___ Tagen ___.” and questions such as “Wie lange dauert es, bis es mir besser geht?” — CEFR-aligned and very practical for a doctor visit.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Describe symptoms and when they started using natural German frames.
  • Say where it hurts and explain triggers or intensity of pain.
  • Ask about medication, recovery time, and whether something is serious (B1).
A patient describing symptoms in German during a B1-level doctor visit practice.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Ich habe seit ___ Tagen ___.

I've been having ___ for ___ days.

Meaning: I've been having ___ for ___ days.

When to use: Use this to tell the doctor how many days you've had a symptom: number of days first, then the symptom.

Tip: Don't swap the order — say the time span after 'seit' before the symptom.

Ich habe seit drei Tagen Fieber.
I've had a fever for three days.
Ich habe seit einer Woche Kopfschmerzen.
I've had a headache for a week.

Das hat vor ___ angefangen.

It started ___ ago.

Meaning: It started ___ ago.

When to use: Say when a symptom began: after 'vor' use a time expression in the dative (e.g., vor drei Tagen).

Das hat vor zwei Tagen angefangen.
It started two days ago.
Das hat vor einer Woche angefangen.
It began a week ago.

Ich habe Schmerzen in meinem ___.

The pain is in my ___.

Meaning: The pain is in my ___.

When to use: Use this to describe the location of pain. Use the dative after 'in' (in meinem Bauch, in meiner Brust).

Tip: Beginners sometimes use accusative instead of dative (use 'meinem' not 'mein').

Ich habe Schmerzen in meinem Rücken.
I have pain in my back.
Ich habe Schmerzen in meiner Brust.
I have pain in my chest.

Es ist nicht so schlimm, aber es geht nicht weg.

It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

Meaning: It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

When to use: Use this to say a symptom is not severe but persistent and worrying.

Es ist nicht so schlimm, aber es geht nicht weg.
It's not so bad, but it doesn't go away.
Der Husten ist nicht stark, aber er geht nicht weg.
The cough isn't strong, but it doesn't go away.

Es wird schlimmer.

It's getting worse.

Meaning: It's getting worse.

When to use: Use this short phrase to report that symptoms or pain are worsening.

Die Schmerzen werden schlimmer. Es wird schlimmer.
The pain is getting worse. It's getting worse.
Seit heute Morgen wird es schlimmer.
Since this morning it is getting worse.

Ich glaube, ich habe Fieber.

I think I have a fever.

Meaning: I think I have a fever.

When to use: Say this when you suspect a raised temperature; 'Fieber haben' is used without an article.

Ich glaube, ich habe Fieber. Mir ist heiß.
I think I have a fever. I'm hot.
Ich glaube, ich habe Fieber. Soll ich messen?
I think I have a fever. Should I measure it?

Wie oft soll ich dieses Medikament nehmen?

How often should I take this medicine?

Meaning: How often should I take this medicine?

When to use: Use this question in the pharmacy or with the doctor to ask medication frequency.

Wie oft soll ich dieses Medikament nehmen? Zwei- oder dreimal am Tag?
How often should I take this medicine? Twice or three times a day?
Entschuldigung, wie oft soll ich dieses Medikament nehmen?
Excuse me, how often should I take this medicine?

Wie lange dauert es, bis es mir besser geht?

How long will it take to feel better?

Meaning: How long will it take to feel better?

When to use: Ask this to learn the expected recovery time after treatment or rest.

Wie lange dauert es, bis es mir besser geht? Haben Sie eine Schätzung?
How long will it take until I feel better? Do you have an estimate?
Wenn ich das Medikament nehme, wie lange dauert es, bis es mir besser geht?
If I take the medicine, how long until I feel better?

Ich bin allergisch gegen ___.

I'm allergic to ___.

Meaning: I'm allergic to ___.

When to use: Tell the doctor or pharmacist about medication or substance allergies. After 'gegen' use the accusative (gegen Penicillin).

Tip: Remember 'gegen' takes the accusative, not the dative.

Ich bin allergisch gegen Penicillin.
I'm allergic to penicillin.
Ich bin allergisch gegen bestimmte Medikamente. Das steht in meinem Bericht.
I'm allergic to certain medicines. It's in my report.

Ist das was Ernstes?

Is it something serious?

Meaning: Is it something serious?

When to use: Ask this to find out if a symptom or condition needs urgent attention.

Ist das was Ernstes? Muss ich ins Krankenhaus?
Is this something serious? Do I need to go to the hospital?
Ich mache mir Sorgen — ist das was Ernstes?
I'm worried — is it something serious?

Es tut weh, wenn ich ___.

It hurts when I ___ .

Meaning: It hurts when I ___.

When to use: Use this to describe actions or movements that trigger pain; verb usually goes to the end after 'wenn ich'.

Es tut weh, wenn ich die Treppe hinaufgehe.
It hurts when I go up the stairs.
Es tut weh, wenn ich den Arm hebe.
It hurts when I lift my arm.

Ich fühle mich ___, wenn ich ___.

I feel ___ when I ___ .

Meaning: I feel ___ when I ___.

When to use: Say how you feel in a situation, with an adjective after 'fühle mich' and the verb at the end after 'wenn ich'.

Ich fühle mich schwindelig, wenn ich aufstehe.
I feel dizzy when I stand up.
Ich fühle mich übel, wenn ich esse.
I feel sick when I eat.

Die Schmerzen kommen und gehen.

The pain comes and goes.

Meaning: The pain comes and goes.

When to use: Use this to describe symptoms that are intermittent rather than constant.

Die Schmerzen kommen und gehen, besonders am Abend.
The pain comes and goes, especially in the evening.
Die Schmerzen kommen und gehen seit zwei Tagen.
The pain has been coming and going for two days.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna is at the doctor's office describing ongoing pain; David is the doctor asking questions.

Two people (Anna and David) speaking German about ongoing symptoms and asking if it is serious.

What is Anna worried about?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ich habe seit drei Tagen Schmerzen in meinem Rücken.

I've had pain in my back for three days.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Das hat vor drei Tagen angefangen? Kommen die Schmerzen und gehen sie?

It started three days ago? Do the pains come and go?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Die Schmerzen kommen und gehen, aber es wird schlimmer.

The pain comes and goes, but it's getting worse.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Tut es weh, wenn Sie den Arm bewegen oder sich bücken?

Does it hurt when you move your arm or bend over?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Es tut weh, wenn ich mich bücke. Ich glaube, ich habe kein Fieber.

It hurts when I bend over. I don't think I have a fever.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ist das was Ernstes? Ich sehe mir das an. Wie oft sollen Sie Schmerzmittel nehmen?

Could it be serious? I'll take a look. How often should you take pain medicine?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Wie oft soll ich dieses Medikament nehmen? Und wie lange dauert es, bis es mir besser geht?

How often should I take this medicine? And how long until I feel better?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which German sentence means: 'It's getting worse.'?

How do you ask: 'How often should I take this medicine?' in German?

Which phrase means 'The pain comes and goes'?

Pick the German sentence for: 'I think I have a fever.'

It started three days ago.

Doctor: When did the pain start? Patient: ___.

It hurts when I bend over.

Nurse: You said it hurts when you bend forward. Patient: ___.

I'm allergic to penicillin.

You should tell the doctor about allergies. Say: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich habe seit ___ Tagen ___.

I've been having ___ for ___ days.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das hat vor ___ angefangen.

It started ___ ago.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich habe Schmerzen in meinem ___.

The pain is in my ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Es ist nicht so schlimm, aber es geht nicht weg.

It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

Say this phrase out loud:

Es wird schlimmer.

It's getting worse.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich glaube, ich habe Fieber.

I think I have a fever.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wie oft soll ich dieses Medikament nehmen?

How often should I take this medicine?

Say this phrase out loud:

Wie lange dauert es, bis es mir besser geht?

How long will it take to feel better?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich bin allergisch gegen ___.

I'm allergic to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ist das was Ernstes?

Is it something serious?

Say this phrase out loud:

Es tut weh, wenn ich ___.

It hurts when I ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich fühle mich ___, wenn ich ___.

I feel ___ when I ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Die Schmerzen kommen und gehen.

The pain comes and goes.