German · Body & Health
"Doctor" in German: Arzt / Ärztin
der Arzt / die Ärztin
Doctor in German is der Arzt for a man and die Ärztin for a woman. You go zum Arzt (to the doctor), and your family doctor is your Hausarzt or Hausärztin. Doktor is mostly a title, or a casual word that children use.
Calling in sick
Ich kann heute nicht kommen, ich muss zum Arzt.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Arzt / Ärztin
Say it
AHRTST
/aːɐ̯tst/
Arzt is one syllable with a long a: AHRTST. The r is very soft, closer to an "ah" than an English r, and zt sounds like "tst". In Ärztin, the ä sounds like the "ai" in "air": AIRTS-tin.
"Doctor" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Arzt / die Ärztin | doctor The standard word for the profession. | The standard word for the profession. |
| der Hausarzt / die Hausärztin | family doctor, GP Your first stop for most health problems. | Your first stop for most health problems. |
| der Kinderarzt / die Kinderärztin | pediatrician A doctor for babies and children. | A doctor for babies and children. |
| der Zahnarzt / die Zahnärztin | dentist Literally "tooth doctor". | Literally "tooth doctor". |
| Herr Doktor / Frau Doktor | Doctor (as a form of address) Polite but a bit old-fashioned. Many patients just say Herr or Frau plus the last name. | Polite but a bit old-fashioned. Many patients just say Herr or Frau plus the last name. |
How to use Arzt / Ärztin in real life
- 1Calling in sick
Ich kann heute nicht kommen, ich muss zum Arzt.
I can't come in today, I have to go to the doctor.
Zum is short for zu dem. You go zum Arzt, but zur Ärztin for a woman.
- 2After an appointment
Meine Hausärztin hat gesagt, ich soll mich ausruhen.
My family doctor said I should rest.
Hausärztin is a compound: Haus (house) plus Ärztin (doctor).
- 3New in town
Kennst du einen guten Arzt, der Englisch spricht?
Do you know a good doctor who speaks English?
A useful question for newcomers. Arzt becomes einen Arzt as the object.
Mistakes English speakers make with Arzt / Ärztin
Incorrect: Ich gehe zu dem Doktor.
Correct: Ich gehe zum Arzt.
Arzt is the normal everyday word, and zu dem almost always shortens to zum.
Incorrect: Sie ist ein Arzt.
Correct: Sie ist Ärztin.
Use the female form for a woman, and leave out the article when you say what someone's job is.
Good to know
In Germany most people start with a Hausarzt for everyday health problems. The Hausarzt can send you to a specialist, called a Facharzt, with a referral (eine Überweisung). A doctor's office is die Praxis, and you usually need a Termin (appointment). If you are too sick to work, the doctor can give you a sick note, called a Krankschreibung.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Calling a doctor's office in Frankfurt
ChatPal
Praxis Dr. Keller, guten Tag. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Dr. Keller's office, hello. How can I help you?
You
Guten Tag, ich bin neu in Frankfurt und suche eine Hausärztin.
Hello, I'm new in Frankfurt and I'm looking for a family doctor.
ChatPal
Frau Dr. Keller ist Ärztin für Allgemeinmedizin. Passt Ihnen morgen um zehn?
Dr. Keller is a general practitioner. Does tomorrow at ten work for you?
You
Ja, das passt gut. Vielen Dank!
Yes, that works well. Thank you very much!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Doctor" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Doctor" in German
What is the difference between Arzt and Doktor?
Arzt is the profession. Doktor is an academic title that anyone with a doctorate can have, so not every Doktor is a doctor. In casual speech, and especially with children, people do say zum Doktor gehen.
How do you say doctor for a woman in German?
Die Ärztin, with an umlaut on the A. The plurals are die Ärzte and die Ärztinnen. The umlaut also appears in compounds: die Zahnärztin, die Kinderärztin.
Should I use du or Sie with my doctor?
Always Sie, and greet them with Herr or Frau plus the last name: Guten Tag, Frau Keller. Doctors will speak to adult patients with Sie as well.
How do you say "I need a doctor" in German?
Ich brauche einen Arzt. Arzt becomes einen Arzt because it is the object of brauchen. In a real emergency, add Bitte rufen Sie einen Krankenwagen! (Please call an ambulance!).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
