German · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 29
Was tut dir weh?What hurts?
Talking about the body and how you feel. Vocabulary: der Körper, der Kopf, der Bauch, der Hals, der Arm, das Bein, die Hand, der Rücken, krank, gesund. Key point: pain is expressed with „weh tun“ and the dative — the body part is the subject, the person goes in the dative: „Mir tut der Kopf weh“ (My head hurts), „Ihm tun die Füße weh“ (His feet hurt). English speakers make the person the subject: „Ich tue der Kopf weh“ ✗ → „Mir tut der Kopf weh“ ✓. Alternative with „haben“: „Ich habe Kopfschmerzen“ (I have a headache), „Ich habe Halsschmerzen“ (I have a sore throat). At the doctor's: „Ich bin krank“ (I am ill), „Gute Besserung!“ (Get well soon!).
Dialogue
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Ich tue … weh / Mir tut … weh
- LukasMike, du siehst müde aus. Alles okay?Mike, you look tired. Everything okay?
- MikeNein. Ich tue der Kopf weh.No. My head hurts. (slip: the body part is the subject, the person is dative: „Mir tut der Kopf weh“)
- LukasSag: „Mir tut der Kopf weh.“ Nicht „ich“.Say: „Mir tut der Kopf weh.“ Not „ich“.
- MikeVerstanden: Mir tut der Kopf weh. Und der Hals auch.Got it: My head hurts. And my throat too.
- LukasDann hast du Kopf- und Halsschmerzen. Geh zum Arzt!Then you have a headache and a sore throat. Go to the doctor!
- MikeJa, das mache ich. Danke, Lukas.Yes, I'll do that. Thanks, Lukas.
Dialogue
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Beim Arzt— At the doctor's
- LenaGuten Tag. Was fehlt Ihnen?Hello. What's wrong with you?
- LukasMir tut der Bauch weh, seit gestern.My stomach hurts, since yesterday.
- LenaHaben Sie auch Kopfschmerzen oder Fieber?Do you also have a headache or a fever?
- LukasKopfschmerzen ja, aber kein Fieber.A headache yes, but no fever.
- LenaTrinken Sie viel Wasser und ruhen Sie sich aus.Drink plenty of water and rest.
- LukasDanke, Frau Doktor. Auf Wiedersehen!Thank you, doctor. Goodbye!
Vocabulary
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- der Körper
n.m.body
- der Kopf
n.m.head
- der Bauch
n.m.belly, stomach
- der Hals
n.m.neck, throat
- der Arm
n.m.arm
- das Bein
n.n.leg
- die Hand
n.f.hand
- der Rücken
n.m.back
- krank
adjectiveill, sick
- gesund
adjectivehealthy
- weh tun
phraseto hurt (mir tut … weh)
Grammar
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„weh tun“ with the dative + „Ich habe …schmerzen“
Explanation
To say something hurts, German uses „weh tun“ quite differently from English. The body part is the subject, and the person goes in the dative (mir, dir, ihm, ihr, uns): „Mir tut der Kopf weh“ — literally „the head hurts to me“. If it is several parts, the verb is plural: „Mir tun die Füße weh“ (My feet hurt). The big mistake: English speakers make themselves the subject and say „Ich tue der Kopf weh“ ✗. Correct is „Mir tut der Kopf weh“ ✓. It is easier with „haben“ + a word ending in „-schmerzen“ (aches): „Ich habe Kopfschmerzen“ (headache), „Ich habe Halsschmerzen“ (sore throat), „Ich habe Bauchschmerzen“ (stomach ache). At the doctor's they ask: „Was fehlt Ihnen?“ (What's wrong?), and you wish someone: „Gute Besserung!“ (Get well soon!).
Examples
- Mir tut der Kopf weh.My head hurts.
- Ihm tun die Beine weh.His legs hurt.
- Ich habe Halsschmerzen und bin krank.I have a sore throat and I am ill.
- Gute Besserung! Bleib im Bett.Get well soon! Stay in bed.
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