Gute Besserung
The English phrase 'hope you feel better' is expressed in German as Gute Besserung.
Gute Besserung is the standard and most common way to wish someone a recovery from an illness or injury.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'good improvement' or 'good recovery'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Gute Besserung is a versatile phrase that can be used in both formal and informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
Grammatically, this is a noun phrase in the accusative case. It functions as an elliptical expression for '[Ich wünsche dir/Ihnen] gute Besserung', which means '[I wish you] good recovery'.
When do people say it?
When someone says Gute Besserung to you, a common response is Danke! (Thanks) or Vielen Dank (Many thanks).
Did you know?
- In Germany, it is a common social custom to send a Gute Besserung card or a small gift like flowers to someone who is hospitalized, even for short stays.
- The word Besserung is derived from the verb bessern, which is a distant cousin of the English word 'better'.
- If someone is recovering from a long-term or chronic condition, Germans might prefer Kopf hoch meaning 'head up' to provide emotional encouragement alongside Gute Besserung.
Examples in context
- Ich hoffe, es geht Ihnen bald besser.I hope you feel better soon.
- Ich hoffe, Ihnen geht es bald wieder gut.I hope you'll be feeling better soon.
- Ich drücke dir die Daumen, dass es dir bald wieder gut geht.I'm crossing my fingers that you'll feel better soon.
- Hey Lisa, ich hoffe, dir geht es bald besser. Gute Besserung!Hey Lisa, I hope you feel better soon. Get well soon!
- Gute Besserung!Get well soon!
- Ich wünsche dir Gute Besserung.I wish you a speedy recovery.
- Sag ihr bitte Gute Besserung von mir.Please tell her I wish her a speedy recovery.
Example conversation
Sarah calls Lukas because he is sick at home.
- SarahHallo Lukas, ich habe gehört, du bist krank.Hello Lukas, I heard you are sick.
- LukasJa, ich muss leider das ganze Wochenende im Bett bleiben.Yes, unfortunately I have to stay in bed all weekend.
- SarahOh je, Gute Besserung!Oh dear, get well soon!
- LukasDanke, Sarah.Thanks, Sarah.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Besserung, CC BY-SA 4.0.
