It’s one of the most common complaints people mention — at school, work, home, or at the pharmacy. That’s why knowing how to say headache in German is so important. It helps you describe your symptoms, understand others, and build everyday fluency around health topics.
The German word is Kopfschmerzen — pronounced “KOPF-shmare-tsen,” where Kopf means “head” and Schmerzen means “pains.”
Kopfschmerzen is a plural-only noun — it always refers to “pains” in the head, even though we might translate it as “a headache” in English. You’ll never see der Kopfschmerz in normal conversation. If you're new to plural forms and articles, check out my gender video lesson — it covers how these forms work in daily speech.
Kopfschmerzen is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German — and it’s something even beginners hear and use quickly.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Kopfschmerzen sind heute besonders schlimm.
My headache is especially bad today.
Accusative:
Ich habe starke Kopfschmerzen.
I have a terrible headache.
Dative:
Mit Kopfschmerzen kann ich nicht arbeiten.
I can’t work with a headache.
Genitive:
Die Ursache der Kopfschmerzen ist unklar.
The cause of the headache is unclear.
Real-World Tips for Learners
You’ll use Kopfschmerzen most often with haben (to have), as in Ich habe Kopfschmerzen or Sie hat leichte Kopfschmerzen. You can also describe their severity:
leichte Kopfschmerzen – mild headache
starke Kopfschmerzen – severe headache
chronische Kopfschmerzen – chronic headaches
plötzliche Kopfschmerzen – sudden headaches
Germans also use this word metaphorically: Du machst mir Kopfschmerzen! can mean “You're giving me a headache!” in both a literal and figurative sense.
At the pharmacy, you might say: Haben Sie etwas gegen Kopfschmerzen? (Do you have anything for headaches?). That little phrase is gold in real-life situations.
Beginner dialogue using Kopfschmerzen:
A: Du siehst müde aus. Alles okay?
B: Nein, ich habe Kopfschmerzen seit dem Morgen.
A: You look tired. Everything okay?
B: No, I’ve had a headache since morning.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kopfschmerzen.
“Was machst du, wenn du Kopfschmerzen hast – und warum hilft das?”
What do you do when you have a headache — and why does it help?
Say your answer out loud in German and include Kopfschmerzen in the sentence.
Duden entry for “Kopfschmerzen”
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say headache in German — and how Kopfschmerzen fits into real health conversations, idioms, and everyday talk.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep learning high-frequency words that matter most.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Körper — essential for any conversation about health or identity.
Or revisit Kraft — a strong word for power, energy, and will.