Diabetes
/diaˈbeːtəs/masculine
The English phrase 'diabetes' is translated into German as Diabetes. Wiktionary also lists Zuckerkrankheit and Zucker.
Meaning: A group of metabolic diseases (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | /diaˈbeːtəs/ /-tɛs/ |
masculine |
| Zuckerkrankheit | feminine | |
| Zucker | /ˈt͡sʊ.kɐ/ | colloquial, masculine |
The term refers to a group of metabolic diseases.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Zuckerkrankheit is a compound of Zucker (sugar) and Krankheit (disease).
Which one should you use?
Diabetes is the formal medical term, whereas Zuckerkrankheit is a common descriptive term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In a medical context, saying someone 'hat Zucker' (has sugar) is a colloquial way to say they have diabetes.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Diabetes is masculine and follows the same declension pattern as other Latin-derived medical terms in German. The noun Zuckerkrankheit is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/diaˈbeːtəs/
Did you know?
- The German word Zucker is a linguistic traveler that can be traced back to the Sanskrit word śárkarā, which originally meant 'grit' or 'gravel'.
Examples in context
- Datteln helfen, Diabetes vorzubeugen.Dates help to prevent diabetes.This sentence illustrates using Diabetes to discuss prevention.Tatoeba #12061562 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9360363 by Amastan
- Der Arzt sagte mir, dass ich Zucker habe.The doctor told me I have diabetes.This sentence shows the colloquial use of Zucker to state one has the condition.Tatoeba #3292395 by Manfredo, translation #13597298 by araneo
- Die Zahl von Menschen mit Diabetes steigt weltweit.The number of people with diabetes is rising globally.This sentence uses Diabetes to discuss global statistics.Tatoeba #8307303 by Espi, translation #749781 by sctld
- Mein Arzt hat bei mir Diabetes diagnostiziert.My doctor has diagnosed me with diabetes.
- Meine Mutter hat Dia und muss Insulin spritzen.My mother has dia and needs to inject insulin.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Felix are talking about a relative's health.
- SarahMein Onkel hat leider Diabetes.My uncle unfortunately has diabetes.
- FelixDas tut mir leid. Ist es Typ eins?I'm sorry to hear that. Is it type one?
- SarahJa, er muss jeden Tag Insulin spritzen.Yes, he has to inject insulin every day.
- FelixDiabetes ist wirklich eine große Herausforderung.Diabetes is really a big challenge.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diabetes” translations and entries Diabetes, Zuckerkrankheit, Zucker, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Zucker, Zuckerkrankheit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
