krank
/kʁaŋk/
The German word for sick is krank.
krank is an adjective used to describe someone who is ill. To express the state of being sick in a general sense, you use the verb sein (to be) with the adjective, such as in Ich bin krank (I am sick). Additionally, the adjective can be turned into a noun, die Kranken, to refer to sick people collectively.
Meaning: ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Switzerland, if you specifically want to say that you feel nauseous, you would use the phrase Mir isch übel.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, krank follows standard German declension rules when it is placed directly before a noun. For example, you would say ein kranker Mann to mean 'a sick man'.
How do you pronounce it?
/kʁaŋk/
Did you know?
- The German word krank is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'crank', as both share a common ancestor meaning 'crooked' or 'twisted'.
- In modern German youth slang, krank is often used as an intensifier similar to 'sick' or 'insane' in English to describe something impressive or extreme.
- While krank means ill, Germans use the specific word krankgeschrieben to describe the official act of being signed off work by a doctor.
Examples in context
- Er war nie krank.He was never sick.This sentence shows how to use krank in a negative context regarding frequency.Tatoeba #3449197 by al_ex_an_der, translation #3982158 by mervert1
- Ich bin so krank.I am so sick.This sentence demonstrates how to use krank to express intensity.Tatoeba #3817780 by Esperantostern, translation #2163129 by Source_VOA
- Er sah krank aus.He looked sick.This sentence shows how to use krank to describe someone's appearance.Tatoeba #8843496 by wolfgangth, translation #8477904 by CH
- Ich bedauere, aber ich kann heute nicht zur Arbeit kommen. Ich bin krank und brauche Ruhe.I'm sorry, but I can't come to work today. I am sick and need rest.
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte, Frau Müller, dass ich nicht am Meeting teilnehmen kann. Mir geht es nicht gut.I apologize, Mrs. Müller, for not being able to attend the meeting. I am not feeling well.
- Hey, ich fühle mich echt kränklich. Können wir den Ausflug auf morgen verschieben?Hey, I'm feeling really sick. Can we postpone the trip to tomorrow?
- Mir ist übel, ich glaube, ich sollte heute Abend lieber zu Hause bleiben.I'm nauseous, I think I should stay at home this evening.
- 810 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia is asking Lukas why he is not at work.
- JuliaBist du heute krank, Lukas?Are you sick today, Lukas?
- LukasJa, ich fühle mich sehr krank.Yes, I feel very sick.
- JuliaSoll ich dir etwas vorbeibringen?Should I bring you something?
- LukasNein, ich schlafe einfach nur.No, I am just sleeping.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry krank, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries krank, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
