German · Body & Health

"Surgery" in German: Operation

die Operation

Say it: op-eh-ra-TSYOHNfeminine · die Operationnoun/opəʁaˈt͡si̯oːn/

Surgery in German is die Operation. Say Ich habe eine Operation or vor der Operation. Everyday short form is die OP.

Hospital plan

Die Operation ist für Donnerstag geplant.
The surgery is planned for Thursday.
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How to pronounce Operation

Say it

op-eh-ra-TSYOHN

/opəʁaˈt͡si̯oːn/

op-eh-ra-TSYOHN. Stress TSYOHN.

"Surgery" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Operationthe surgery / operation

Default noun.

die OPthe surgery (short)

Everyday short form.

vor der Operationbefore the surgery

Timing.

eine Operation habento have surgery

Patient talk.

How to use Operation in real life

  1. 1Hospital plan

    Die Operation ist für Donnerstag geplant.

    The surgery is planned for Thursday.

    Schedule.

  2. 2Friend update

    Nach der Operation darf er wieder laufen.

    After the surgery he may walk again.

    Recovery.

  3. 3Consent talk

    Der Arzt erklärt die Operation in Ruhe.

    The doctor explains the surgery calmly.

    Prep talk.

Mistakes English speakers make with Operation

Incorrect: Der Operation war erfolgreich.

Correct: Die Operation war erfolgreich.

Operation is feminine: die Operation.

Incorrect: Ich habe eine Surgery.

Correct: Ich habe eine Operation.

Use Operation, not English surgery.

Good to know

Germans casually say OP for Operation: Nach der OP. Clinics still write die Operation on forms. Chirurgie names the specialty more than the single procedure.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Visiting a friend after a procedure

  1. ChatPal

    Wie lief die Operation gestern?

    How did the surgery go yesterday?

  2. You

    Gut. Die Operation war kürzer als gedacht.

    Well. The surgery was shorter than expected.

  3. ChatPal

    Schön. Ruhe nach der Operation ist wichtig.

    Nice. Rest after the surgery is important.

  4. You

    Genau. Die Operation liegt hinter uns.

    Exactly. The surgery is behind us.

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"Surgery" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Surgery" in German

How do you say surgery?

Die Operation.

Short form?

Die OP.

Gender?

Feminine: die Operation.

Before surgery?

Vor der Operation.

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