21 December 2025
How would you say that something hurts in German?
Wehtun (also spelled weh tun) and Schmerzen essentially mean “to hurt” and “pain/ache” - the two words you need to say that something hurts.
Examples
Mein Kopf tut weh. My head hurts.
Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. I have a headache.
Was tut weh? What hurts?
The word Schmerzen can be attached to any body part where you would use the word “ache” in English, in essence.
Examples
Kopfschmerzen - headache
Ohrenschmerzen - earache
Zahnschmerzen - toothache
Halsschmerzen - sore throat
Bauchschmerzen - stomach ache
You can also say Rückenschmerzen (back pain), Gliederschmerzen (aching limbs) or Knieschmerzen (knee pain). Another flexible pattern is X tut weh: Mein Knie tut weh. - My knee hurts. Herzschmerz can mean emotional heartache, and Herzschmerzen can also be used figuratively. Liebeskummer means distress over love or a relationship.
Free download
Get the 1000 Most Frequently Used German Nouns ebook - free.
Leave your email and I’ll send you a link to the ebook. You’ll also get my occasional German-learning tips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
Loading comments…