Ruhr
dated, feminine
The English word dysentery is translated into German as Ruhr or Dysenterie.
Meaning: disease characterised by inflammation of the intestines (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Ruhr | dated, feminine |
| Dysenterie | feminine |
Both terms refer to a disease characterized by inflammation of the intestines.
Which one should you use?
Dysenterie is the standard medical term used in modern German, whereas Ruhr is a dated term.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that someone died of dysentery, German uses the preposition an followed by the dative feminine form der Ruhr.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse the disease Ruhr with the Ruhrgebiet (Ruhr area), which refers to a major industrial region in Germany.
Did you know?
- Because Ruhr means both a disease and a famous river, the phrase an der Ruhr can mean either 'by the river Ruhr' or 'from the disease dysentery' depending on the context.
- The German term Ruhr for dysentery is derived from the Late Latin rubro gilum, which literally translates to 'red brook'.
- The term Ruhr shares a root with the Celtic word for 'red', reflecting how ancient people named both rivers and illnesses based on their colors.
Examples in context
- Tom starb an Ruhr.Tom died of dysentery.This sentence is useful for showing how to state that someone died of Ruhr.Tatoeba #11885221 by Rovo, translation #11159719 by CK
- Ich leide an Dysenterie.I suffer from dysentery.
- Mein Stuhlgang ist blutig und wässrig.My stool is bloody and watery.
- Ich hab' Durchfall, und da ist auch Blut dabei.I have diarrhea, and there's blood in it.
- Mir geht's richtig schlecht. Ich hab' Dysentrie.I feel really bad. I have dysentery.
- Die Ruhr war früher eine gefürchtete Krankheit.Dysentery was a feared disease in the past.
- Er leidet an einer schweren Ruhr.He is suffering from a severe dysentery.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing a history book about old wars.
- JuliaViele Soldaten starben damals an der Ruhr.Many soldiers died of dysentery back then.
- FelixWar das wegen des schmutzigen Wassers?Was that because of the dirty water?
- JuliaJa, die Hygiene war damals sehr schlecht.Yes, hygiene was very poor back then.
- FelixDas klingt wirklich schrecklich, Julia.That sounds truly terrible, Julia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dysentery” translations and entries Ruhr, Dysenterie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ruhr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
