About German doctor

As an expat, you certainly have your own perceptions of what doctors know and how they operate. You also probably know that every area is different, and that is certainly true when you travel to another country.

The vast majority of German doctors speak both English and German. Does this mean you don’t need to speak German? You should definitely try to speak German with them if possible. However, don’t expect other staff to be as fluent in English. You will need to use German with administrative staff and nurses.

The cost of seeing a doctor is much lower than in the US and quite comparable to other countries with nationalized health care systems. If you don’t have insurance, expect to pay 20-30 Euros to see a general practitioner and at least 50 Euros for a specialist.

Things to consider

Before you arrive in Germany, take the time to make a checklist of things to consider in case you get sick. You can keep this list on an app to help you. By thinking about it before you leave, you can make sure you don’t forget anything important.

• Were you injured? If so, what happened? Whether it was from exercising, hiking, or some other activity, make sure you have the vocabulary you need to quickly help your doctor understand what you did to injure yourself.
• Have you eaten something that may have upset your stomach or do you think you may have food poisoning? You can keep a list of the most common German foods so you can show your doctor what you ate that may have caused your problem.
• Do you have allergies? Remember that there are both environmental and food allergies. If you have allergies, be sure to include that on your checklist, as well as do some research to learn the specific terminology for your allergy.
• Do you have any other known health problems? It is worth taking the time to record that information and keep it with your passport, as well as taking the time to learn the German vocabulary for those illnesses.

Common vocabulary used when going to the doctor in Germany

r Termin: appointment 

make an appointment: make an appointment

r Hausarzt”: family doctor

r Notfall: emergency

the helper/-i: the helper

I must lie down: I must lie down

I feel sick: I feel sick

I have diarrhea: I have diarrhea

I would like to make an appointment: I would like to make an appointment

My foot hurts: My foot hurts

I fell: I fell.

How can I help you?: How can I help you?

Are you in pain?: Are you in pain?

Where does it hurt?: Where does it hurt?

How long have you been feeling this way?: ngài bị vậy bao lâu rồi?

How high is the fever?: How high is the fever?

I am sick: I am sick

I have a fever: I have a fever

I have stomachache, headache, sore throat: I have stomachache, headache, sore throat

Some useful sentences when going to see a doctor in Germany

Medical Terms and Phrases

There is a lot of medical terminology in any language, but you don’t need to know it all. In addition to the technical terms you should consider in the previous section, there are many more common terms — some of which you might even use outside of a medical emergency.

Body parts and senses

You have a lot of body parts, but odds are you can understand just the most basic words if you ever have to see a doctor. Here are the most basic words to help you at least identify where you are hurting or think there might be a problem.

You may need to describe how your senses are affected. Use the following words to talk about your physical perceptions, such as vision.

Some common words used in useful sentences when going to see a doctor in Germany

There are some additional terms you may need to know, especially when trying to find a doctor to help you. The table below provides basic medical terminology.

Some useful phrases when going to the doctor in Germany to describe your illness

There are many things that could be causing your problem, from a known health problem to symptoms. This is not an exhaustive list, but it covers most of the basic terms you might need.

The following table lists symptom terms to help you describe what’s wrong.

Here is a list of conditions to help you tell your doctor if you have a condition. Some of the following terms are also potential diagnoses.

Some vocabulary about medicine

For most conditions, you probably won’t need to know the specific names of the medications. If you have a known medical problem, it’s worth taking the time to learn the German terminology before you leave the country (for example, insulin is das Insulin, which you might need to know if you have diabetes). Otherwise, you probably won’t need more than a few of the following medications? These are the ones that most people will use at some point in their lives.

Important phrases in useful sentences when going to see a doctor in Germany

There are two types of phrases you should know: phrases your doctor will use and phrases you may need to use.

To help describe your current state, learn the following phrases.

Be prepared for your doctor to ask the following questions or give the following orders.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that your health is not something you should take lightly. If you feel unwell, make sure you see a doctor. If nothing else, they can help you feel better faster. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when you’re traveling abroad.