Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schlaganfall | /ˈʃlaːkʔanˌfal/ | masculine |
| Hirninfarkt | masculine | |
| Hirnschlag | masculine | |
| Apoplexie | /apoplɛˈksiː/ | feminine |
| Apoplex | colloquial, masculine, short form | |
| Schlagerl | /ˈʃlaːɡ̊ɐl/ (Austria, Southern Germany) | colloquial, neuter |
The primary meaning refers to the medical condition where brain function is lost due to a sudden interruption in blood supply.
Which one should you use?
Schlaganfall is the general term for a stroke. Hirninfarkt is more specific, referring to an ischemic stroke caused by a blockage (a brain infarct). Apoplexie and its shortened version Apoplex are also used for this condition.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Apoplexie is a formal medical term used in clinical settings, while Apoplex is a shortened, more colloquial version of it. Apoplex and Schlagerl are both considered colloquial.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Schlaganfall, Hirninfarkt, Hirnschlag and Apoplex are masculine nouns, whereas Apoplexie is a feminine noun and Schlagerl is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃlaːkʔanˌfal/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the verb streichen (to stroke/brush) when you are referring to the medical noun Schlaganfall.
Did you know?
- The term Schlagerl is a diminutive form, which adds a suffix to make the word sound smaller or more endearing. This creates a strange linguistic contrast between a serious medical emergency and a word that usually implies something cute or tiny.
- The Greek origin of Apoplexie actually describes the act of being 'crippled by a blow', which provides the historical logic for the term.
- While many medical terms in English have Latin roots, the common German term Schlaganfall is built from purely Germanic roots.
Examples in context
- Er hatte einen Schlaganfall.He had a stroke.This sentence shows how to say someone had a stroke using Schlaganfall.Tatoeba #2306971 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2266301 by _undertoad
- Ich hatte schonmal einen Schlaganfall.I have had a stroke before.This sentence uses Schlaganfall to describe a past medical event.Tatoeba #6989319 by moskytoo, translation #436673 by lukaszpp
- Meine Großmutter hatte einen Schlaganfall.My grandmother had a stroke.This sentence uses Schlaganfall to refer to a grandmother's stroke.Tatoeba #7219255 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2580750 by Hybrid
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are talking about a news report in the hospital.
- JuliaEin Schlaganfall kann sehr gefährlich sein.A stroke can be very dangerous.
- LukasJa, die Symptome erkennt man oft zu spät.Yes, people often recognize the symptoms too late.
- JuliaStimmt, Lukas. Schnelle Hilfe ist lebenswichtig.True, Lukas. Fast help is vital.
- LukasDas stimmt, man muss sofort den Notarzt rufen.That's right, you must call the emergency doctor immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stroke” translations and entries Schlaganfall, Apoplexie, Schlagerl, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Apoplexie, Schlaganfall, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
