German · Body & Health

"Cough" in German: Husten

der Husten

Say it: HOOS-tenmasculine · der Hustennoun/ˈhuːstn̩/

Cough in German is der Husten. Say Ich habe Husten or ein trockener Husten. Cough syrup is der Hustensaft; the verb to cough is husten.

Sick day

Der Husten lässt mich nachts nicht schlafen.
The cough keeps me from sleeping at night.
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How to pronounce Husten

Say it

HOOS-ten

/ˈhuːstn̩/

HOOS-ten. Soft u as oo. Soft final en.

"Cough" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
der Hustencough

Main noun.

Husten habento have a cough

Symptom talk.

trockener Hustendry cough

Describing type.

Hustensaftcough syrup

Pharmacy.

How to use Husten in real life

  1. 1Sick day

    Der Husten lässt mich nachts nicht schlafen.

    The cough keeps me from sleeping at night.

    Der Husten as subject.

  2. 2Doctor

    Ich habe seit drei Tagen starken Husten.

    I've had a bad cough for three days.

    Starken Husten.

  3. 3Pharmacy

    Was hilft gegen den Husten?

    What helps for the cough?

    Gegen den Husten.

Mistakes English speakers make with Husten

Incorrect: die Husten

Correct: der Husten

Husten is masculine: der.

Incorrect: Ich habe einen Cough.

Correct: Ich habe Husten.

Use Husten, not English cough.

Good to know

A lingering Husten after a cold is common; pharmacies stock many syrups. Covering your mouth on transit is expected. Husten as a verb (Ich huste) is different from the noun der Husten.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

At a pharmacy counter

  1. ChatPal

    Brauchst du etwas gegen den Husten?

    Do you need something for the cough?

  2. You

    Ja, der Husten ist trocken und nervig.

    Yes, the cough is dry and annoying.

  3. ChatPal

    Dann nimm Hustensaft ohne Zucker.

    Then take cough syrup without sugar.

  4. You

    Gut. Hoffentlich ist der Husten bald weg.

    Good. Hopefully the cough will be gone soon.

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"Cough" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Cough" in German

How do you say cough?

Der Husten.

I have a cough?

Ich habe Husten.

Cough syrup?

Der Hustensaft.

Gender?

Masculine: der Husten.

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