Karies
/ˈkaʁi̯ɛs/feminine
The English phrase cavity can be translated into German as Karies or Loch.
Meaning: hole and soft area in tooth caused by caries (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Karies | /ˈkaʁi̯ɛs/ | feminine |
| Loch | /lɔx/ | colloquial, neuter |
The term refers to a hole and soft area in tooth caused by caries.
Which one should you use?
Karies refers to the medical condition of tooth decay, whereas Loch refers to the physical hole itself.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Karies is a formal term for cavity translating to tooth decay. Loch is the common, everyday way to refer to a cavity when speaking about the physical hole in a tooth.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say one has a cavity, Germans often use the phrase ein Loch im Zahn (a hole in the tooth) rather than saying ich habe Karies.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʁi̯ɛs/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly treat Karies as a countable noun like 'a cavity', but in German, Karies is an uncountable mass noun used to describe the condition.
Did you know?
- The term Karies is derived from the Greek word for 'decayed flesh', linking dental health to a broader history of pathology.
- The word Loch is a doublet of the German words Lücke ('gap') and Luke ('hatch').
- The word Lücke (a relative of Loch) is often used in German to describe a 'gap' in knowledge or a 'missing' piece of information.
Examples in context
- Ich hatte noch nie ein Loch.I've never had a cavity.This sentence is useful for expressing that you have never had a Loch.Tatoeba #13061436 by Vortarulo, translation #4976786 by CK
- Ich glaube, ich habe ein Loch im Zahn.I think I have a cavity.This sentence is useful for expressing a suspicion that you have a Loch in a tooth.Tatoeba #927558 by Sudajaengi, translation #528637 by blay_paul
- Wenn er ein Loch im Zahn hat, will ich das wissen.If he has a cavity in his tooth, I want to know about it.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to know if someone has a Loch in their tooth.Tatoeba #10857262 by Sprakify, translation #10857264 by Sprakify
Example conversation
Felix is telling Julia why he has to visit the dentist.
- FelixIch muss zum Zahnarzt gehen.I have to go to the dentist.
- JuliaHast du Karies?Do you have a cavity?
- FelixJa, ich habe Karies an einem Backenzahn.Yes, I have a cavity in one of my molars.
- JuliaDas ist nicht schön, Felix.That is not nice, Felix.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cavity” translations and entries Karies, Loch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Loch, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
