Chirurg
/çiˈrʊrk/masculine
The German word for surgeon is Chirurg. Wiktionary also lists Operateur and Wundarzt.
Meaning: doctor who performs surgery (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chirurg | /çiˈrʊrk/ /kiˈrʊrk/ |
masculine |
| Operateur | /ɔˌpəʁaˈtøːɐ̯/ | dated, masculine |
| Wundarzt | historical, masculine |
A surgeon is a doctor who performs surgery.
Which one should you use?
Chirurg is the standard, modern term for a surgeon. Operateur is an outdated term that is rarely used in modern medical contexts. Wundarzt is a historical term for a practitioner who treated wounds, used before modern surgery was established.
How does it change in a sentence?
Chirurg belongs to the n-declension, which means the genitive singular form is des Chirurgen. The plural form is Chirurgen. To refer to a female surgeon, use the feminine form Chirurgin.
How do you pronounce it?
/çiˈrʊrk/
Did you know?
- In historical German contexts, a Wundarzt was often a barber-surgeon who performed both haircuts and amputations.
- The word Chirurg comes from the Greek words for 'hand' and 'work', meaning the profession was originally defined as 'hand-work'.
- The word Operation used in Operateur shares the same root as a musical 'opera', as both imply a complex, coordinated performance.
Examples in context
- Bist du mein Chirurg?Are you my surgeon?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is your surgeon.Tatoeba #13716543 by Naina, translation #11900746 by CK
- Mein Vater ist Chirurg.My father is a surgeon.This sentence is useful for stating that your father is a surgeon.Tatoeba #8523500 by Yorwba, translation #9007400 by CK
- Ich will Chirurg werden.I want to be a surgeon.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to become a surgeon.Tatoeba #8974028 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8973009 by CK
- Ich habe meine Operation von einem Chirurgen durchführen lassen.I had my surgery performed by a surgeon.
- Meine Schwester ist eine erfahrene Chirurgin in diesem Krankenhaus.My sister is an experienced surgeon in this hospital.
- Kannst du mir den Operateur empfehlen, der die Operation durchführt?Can you recommend the surgeon who will perform the operation?
- Die Operateurin hat gestern eine erfolgreiche Operation durchgeführt.The female surgeon performed a successful operation yesterday.
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are talking about a family member's job.
- MaximilianMein Onkel ist ein sehr guter Chirurg.My uncle is a very good surgeon.
- JuliaWo arbeitet der Chirurg genau?Where exactly does the surgeon work?
- MaximilianEr arbeitet in einem großen Krankenhaus.He works in a large hospital.
- JuliaDas ist ein sehr anstrengender Beruf.That is a very demanding profession.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “surgeon” translations and entries Chirurg, Operateur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Chirurg, Operateur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
