mir ist schlecht
The German phrase for "I feel sick" is mir ist schlecht.
mir ist schlecht is used specifically to express that you feel nauseous or are about to vomit. It does not refer to general physical illness or bodily pain.
Which one should you use?
While mir ist schlecht is the most common way to express this in everyday speech, you may encounter Mir ist übel, which is slightly more formal or clinical.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the dative case mir (to me) rather than the nominative ich (I) to express the sensation, literally meaning "to me is bad".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Ich bin schlecht to express nausea. In German, this actually means "I am a bad person" or "I am bad at something".
Did you know?
- The word übel used in the formal version Mir ist übel is also used in the phrase das Übel, which refers to a great evil or a calamity.
- In some German dialects, the word mir can mean both 'me' and 'we'. This happened because the word for 'we' merged with verbs in old spoken forms.
- While mir ist schlecht describes nausea, Germans use different verbs entirely for other types of sickness. To say you are sick with a cold or flu, you use the verb krank sein.
Examples in context
- Mir ist schlecht.I feel sick.This sentence is useful for expressing that you feel sick.Tatoeba #1580914 by jakov, translation #759379 by vgigregg
- Ich fühle mich nicht gut.I'm not feeling well.
- Mir ist übel und ich muss mich übergeben.I feel sick, and I need to vomit.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are sitting in a car.
- SarahMaximilian, mir ist schlecht.Maximilian, I feel sick.
- MaximilianSoll ich das Auto anhalten?Should I stop the car?
- SarahJa, bitte, schnell.Yes, please, quickly.
- MaximilianHier ist ein Beutel für dich.Here is a bag for you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mir, schlecht, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
