bewusstlos
/bəˈvʊstloːs/
The English word unconscious translates to German as bewusstlos.
The adjective bewusstlos is used to describe the physical state of not being awake. In a more idiomatic sense, the phrase Weggetreten sein literally means to have stepped away and is used to describe being unconscious.
Meaning: not awake (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word bewusstlos is composed of bewusst (conscious) and the suffix -los (without).
Which one should you use?
Use bewusstlos to describe the physical state of being knocked out or unresponsive. This differs from unbewusst, which is used for things done without awareness or for psychological processes.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective describing a state, bewusstlos does not take an ending when used with the verb sein (to be), but it takes endings when used before a noun, such as eine bewusstlose Person (an unconscious person).
How do you pronounce it?
/bəˈvʊstloːs/
Did you know?
- If someone is barely conscious or drifting in and out, Germans might use the term dämmerig, which shares a root with Dämmerung or 'twilight'.
- The root bewusst is related to the word Wissen, meaning 'knowledge', implying that consciousness in German is fundamentally linked to the act of knowing.
- In German, being 'unconscious' in a metaphorical sense, like being 'unconscious of a danger', uses sich einer Sache nicht bewusst sein rather than the adjective bewusstlos.
Examples in context
- Tom war nicht bewusstlos.Tom wasn't unconscious.This sentence is useful for showing the negation of the adjective bewusstlos.Tatoeba #9971918 by wolfgangth, translation #2240180 by CK
- Er war einige Tage bewusstlos.He was unconscious for several days.This sentence is useful for describing a duration of being bewusstlos.Tatoeba #3574401 by Manfredo, translation #300249 by CK
- Er wurde bewußtlos geschlagen.He was knocked unconscious.This sentence is useful for describing how someone became bewusstlos.Tatoeba #8957256 by wolfgangth, translation #1635871 by Spamster
- Der Patient wurde bewusstlos und wurde sofort ins Krankenhaus gebracht.The patient became unconscious and was immediately taken to the hospital.
- Die junge Frau brach ohnmächtig zusammen, als sie die schlechten Nachrichten hörte.The young woman fainted when she heard the bad news.
- Der Verletzte hat nach dem Autounfall kurzzeitig das Bewusstsein verloren.The injured person briefly lost consciousness after the car accident.
- Als er die Blutprobe sah, fiel er schreiend in Ohnmacht.When he saw the blood sample, he screamed and fainted.
- Der Mann, der gegen die Laterne gelaufen ist, war für einige Minuten weggetreten.The man who ran into the lamppost was unconscious for a few minutes.
- Mir wurde so schwindelig, dass ich umgefallen bin und für eine kurze Zeit bewusstlos war.I felt so dizzy that I collapsed and was unconscious for a short time.
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are talking about an accident they saw.
- LukasIst der Mann bewusstlos?Is the man unconscious?
- HannahJa, er ist völlig bewusstlos.Yes, he is completely unconscious.
- LukasSoll ich den Krankenwagen rufen?Should I call the ambulance?
- HannahBitte ruf sofort den Notruf.Please call the emergency number immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unconscious” translations and entries bewusstlos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
