German · Body & Health
"Sick" in German: krank
krank
Sick in German is krank. Say Ich bin krank or Mir ist schlecht for feeling unwell. Krankmelden is to call in sick at work.
Morning text
Ich bleibe im Bett. Ich bin krank.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce krank
Say it
krahnk
/kʁaŋk/
krahnk. Short a. Soft final nk.
"Sick" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| krank | sick / ill Default adjective. | Default adjective. |
| Ich bin krank. | I am sick. Everyday statement. | Everyday statement. |
| krankmelden | to call in sick Work/school. | Work/school. |
| schwer krank | seriously ill Stronger illness. | Stronger illness. |
How to use krank in real life
- 1Morning text
Ich bleibe im Bett. Ich bin krank.
I'm staying in bed. I'm sick.
Ich bin krank.
- 2Office
Lisa ist seit Montag krank.
Lisa has been sick since Monday.
Ist … krank.
- 3Sympathy
Du klingst krank. Soll ich Tee bringen?
You sound sick. Should I bring tea?
Klingst krank.
Mistakes English speakers make with krank
Incorrect: Ich habe krank.
Correct: Ich bin krank.
Use sein with krank, not haben.
Incorrect: Ich bin sick.
Correct: Ich bin krank.
Use krank, not English sick.
Good to know
Calling in sick is krankmelden; a doctor's note is often eine Krankschreibung. Friends ask Schon besser? more than dramatic questions.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Canceling a meetup
ChatPal
Kommst du noch, oder bist du krank?
Are you still coming, or are you sick?
You
Ich bin krank. Hals und Kopf tun weh.
I'm sick. Throat and head hurt.
ChatPal
Alles klar. Werde bald gesund, nicht krank bleiben.
All good. Get well soon, don't stay sick.
You
Danke. Wenn ich nicht mehr krank bin, schreiben wir.
Thanks. When I'm not sick anymore, we'll write.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sick" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sick" in German
How do you say sick?
Krank.
I am sick?
Ich bin krank.
Call in sick?
Sich krankmelden.
Feel nauseous?
Often Mir ist schlecht—not only krank.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
