Zöliakie
The German word for coeliac is Zöliakie.
Zöliakie refers to the autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten causes damage to the small intestine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Germany, the term Glutenunverträglichkeit is more frequently used than Zöliakie to describe this condition.
Did you know?
- The German word Zöliakie uses the 'umlaut' ö, a sound that does not exist in the original Latin 'coeliacia' from which it was derived.
- When discussing Zöliakie in Germany, people may mention Kontamination, referring to the specific risk of cross-contamination in bakeries, which is a major cultural point of caution.
- The Latin root in Zöliakie refers to the 'abdomen' in general, meaning the word literally describes a 'belly affliction' rather than specifically targeting the intestines.
Examples in context
- Ich habe Glutenintoleranz.I have coeliac disease.
- Sie kann aufgrund ihrer Zöliakie kein Gluten essen.She cannot eat gluten due to coeliac disease.
- Kennen Sie jemanden mit Zöliakie?Do you know anyone with coeliac disease?
- Zöliakie erfordert eine glutenfreie Ernährung.Coeliac disease requires a gluten-free diet.
- Ist Zöliakie gefährlich?Is coeliac disease dangerous?
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are choosing a restaurant for dinner.
- LauraKönnen wir in dieses italienische Restaurant gehen?Can we go to this Italian restaurant?
- JulianGibt es dort Optionen für Menschen mit Zöliakie?Are there options there for people with coeliac disease?
- LauraJa, sie bieten viele glutenfreie Nudeln an.Yes, they offer many gluten-free pastas.
- JulianDann passt das perfekt für uns.Then that works perfectly for us.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Zöliakie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Zöliakie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
