My First Cold in Germany: Learning to Say “It Hurts”

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin, and I thought I was getting the hang of things. Ordering a Kaffee mit Milch was easy. Asking for directions… mostly easy. But then came the cold. A proper, shivering, miserable German cold. And suddenly, understanding how to talk about feeling sick became way more important than knowing the difference between der, die, and das.

The Initial Panic (and the Pharmacy)

The first morning, I woke up with this terrible ache in my chest. It wasn’t a sharp pain, more like a deep, constant weh. I tried to figure out what to say, and honestly, I panicked. My German is… developing. I stumbled through, “Ich… ich fühle mich nicht gut. Mir tut es… weh?” The pharmacist, a nice older man named Herr Schmidt, looked at me with a kind smile. “Wo tut es weh?” he asked, pointing to my chest. “Brüchig?” – Is it a bruise?

I explained, “Nein, nein, nicht wie ein Bruch. Es ist… ein Schmerz. Es tut weh!” He nodded, understood, and prescribed me something for a “Husten” (cough) and a “Schmerzmittel” (painkiller). He also gave me a really helpful piece of advice: “Sagen Sie ‘Es tut weh,’ wenn Sie sagen, dass Sie Schmerzen haben.” – “Say ‘Es tut weh’ if you’re saying you have pain.” Brilliant, right?

Common Phrases and the “Es tut weh” Structure

The “Es tut weh” structure is key. It’s not just a random phrase; it’s the core of describing pain in German. You use it like this:

• Es tut weh + [where] + [that you are doing]

Let’s break it down:

• Es tut: It hurts
• weh: pain
• [where]: Where the pain is located. Examples: im Kopf (in my head), im Bauch (in my stomach), in der Brust (in my chest), in den Schultern (in my shoulders).
• [that you are doing]: What you’re experiencing. Examples: zu brennen (to burn), zu steifen (to feel stiff), zu drücken (to press).

Here are some more realistic examples:

• “Es tut mir im Kopf weh, wenn ich lange auf Computern sitze.” (It hurts in my head when I sit at the computer for a long time.)
• “Es tut mir im Bauch weh, wenn ich zu viel esse.” (It hurts in my stomach when I eat too much.)
• “Es tut mir in den Schultern weh, wenn der Regen anfängt.” (It hurts in my shoulders when the rain starts.) – I actually said this when the first drops of rain started falling outside my apartment window!

Misunderstandings and Corrections

This is where it got tricky. I tried to explain to my Arzt (doctor), Dr. Lehmann, that I had a headache. I said, “Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. Es tut weh im Kopf.” He looked puzzled and asked, “Aber ist es ein Druckgefühl oder ein stechender Schmerz?” – “But is it a pressure feeling or a stabbing pain?”

I realized I hadn’t specified how it hurt. “Oh! Es ist eher ein Druckgefühl,” I corrected, quickly. It highlighted the importance of being precise! He then explained that “Kopfschmerzen” can have different causes and treatments.

Useful Vocabulary

Here’s a little cheat sheet of useful vocabulary:

• Schmerzen: Pain
• Husten: Cough
• Krankheit: Illness
• fiebrig: Feverish
• beschwerlich: Difficult to bear/painful
• Schmerzmittel: Painkiller
• Arzt: Doctor
• Apotheke: Pharmacy

Practical Tips for Talking About Illness

1. Start with the basics: “Mir geht es nicht gut.” (I’m not feeling well.)

2. Be specific: Don’t just say “Ich habe Schmerzen.” Tell him where it hurts and how it feels.

3. Use “Es tut weh”: Don’t be afraid to use this structure; it’s your friend!

4. Listen carefully: Pay attention to any clarifying questions the doctor asks. They’re trying to help you!

Getting sick in Germany isn’t ideal, of course. But learning the right phrases and understanding the “Es tut weh” structure has made navigating doctor’s appointments and explaining my discomfort much easier. And honestly, it’s a good reminder that communication, even with a little fear and a lot of weh, is key to feeling at home.