Lesson 39 of 69 · A2, Unit 4: Health, feelings, and people
Health and the body
To say something hurts, German uses tun (to do) with the dative: Mir tut der Kopf weh (literally 'to me the head does woe'). The thing that hurts is the subject, so with plurals the verb changes: Mir tun die Füße weh.
For aches that have their own word, the noun + schmerzen pattern is common: Kopfschmerzen (headache), Bauchschmerzen (stomach ache), Halsschmerzen (sore throat).
By the end you can:
- name the main parts of the body
- say what hurts, with weh tun and the -schmerzen words
- describe common symptoms like a cold or fever
Unlock the full lesson
The full lesson — 4 sections of explanation, its 18 words with audio, a dialogue, flashcards, a quiz and spaced review. The first three lessons are free. A subscription unlocks every lesson.
See plans