It’s one of the most important places in any city — and also one of the most important words in your vocabulary. If you want to talk about health, family emergencies, or everyday situations, you need to know how to say hospital in German.
The word is Krankenhaus — pronounced “KRAHN-ken-house,” just like the English words crankin’ house. The word literally means “house of the sick.”
Krankenhaus is neuter, so it’s das Krankenhaus. The plural is die Krankenhäuser. For a simple, clear explanation of how gender and plural forms work in German, check out my gender video lesson.
Krankenhaus is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and shows up constantly in stories, conversations, and official paperwork.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Das Krankenhaus ist gleich um die Ecke.
The hospital is just around the corner.
Accusative:
Ich muss das Krankenhaus anrufen.
I need to call the hospital.
Dative:
Er liegt noch im Krankenhaus.
He’s still in the hospital.
Genitive:
Der Name des Krankenhauses ist mir entfallen.
I’ve forgotten the hospital’s name.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Krankenhaus is used in nearly every context where health or emergencies are mentioned. It can appear in serious conversations, administrative forms, or even casual stories like, “Ich bin fast ins Krankenhaus gekommen!” (I almost ended up in the hospital!).
Common phrases include:
ins Krankenhaus gehen – to go to the hospital
im Krankenhaus liegen – to be in the hospital (as a patient)
aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen werden – to be discharged from the hospital
die Notaufnahme im Krankenhaus – the emergency room in the hospital
In real life, Germans often refer to Krankenhaus casually, but it always carries weight — and knowing how to use it lets you talk clearly about illness, injury, or visits to loved ones.
Beginner dialogue using Krankenhaus:
A: Wo ist dein Vater?
B: Er ist noch im Krankenhaus, aber es geht ihm besser.
A: Where’s your father?
B: He’s still in the hospital, but he’s doing better.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Krankenhaus.
“Warst du schon mal im Krankenhaus – oder hast du jemanden dort besucht?”
Have you ever been in the hospital — or visited someone there?
Say your answer out loud in German and include Krankenhaus in the sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say hospital in German — and how das Krankenhaus connects to the real moments that matter in life and language.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep building practical, high-impact vocabulary.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Krankenwagen — essential when discussing emergencies.
Or revisit Krankheit — for everyday conversations about health.