allergic
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allergic
A medical hypersensitivity of the body to certain substances that leads to a defensive reaction such as a skin rash or breathing difficulties.
Ich bin allergisch gegen Katzenhaare und bekomme sofort eine laufende Nase.
I am allergic to cat hair and immediately get a runny nose.
The preposition after 'allergisch' (allergic) depends on the meaning. For the medical allergy (meaning 1), you use 'gegen' + accusative. For the figurative, emotional aversion (meaning 2), 'auf' + accusative is typical.
Mein Sohn ist allergisch gegen Nüsse.
My son is allergic to nuts.
The adjective 'allergisch' (allergic) belongs to the noun 'die Allergie' (the allergy). The ending '-isch' is a common ending for adjectives that describe belonging or a characteristic.
Er leidet seit seiner Kindheit an einer schweren Allergie.
He has suffered from a severe allergy since childhood.
In the figurative meaning, people often react 'allergisch' (allergicly) to abstract things such as criticism, suggestions, certain topics, or behaviors.
Er reagiert allergisch, wenn man seine Arbeitsweise infrage stellt.
He reacts allergicly when someone questions his way of working.
sensitive
'empfindlich' and 'allergisch' have in common that someone reacts strongly to something. 'empfindlich' is more general: the skin, the body, or even a person reacts easily to stimuli or criticism. 'allergisch' is more precise in the medical sense and means a real overreaction of the body to a specific substance, such as pollen or nuts. In a figurative sense, 'allergisch auf etwas reagieren' can also mean that someone reacts in a very irritated or rejecting way. The words are confused because both describe a strong reaction. When it is about a medical allergy, 'allergisch' is correct; when it is only about slight irritability or vulnerability, 'empfindlich' fits better.
Wir sind allergisch gegen Nüsse und fragen im Restaurant genau nach.
We are allergic to nuts and ask carefully at the restaurant.
Mein Freund hat empfindliche Haut und benutzt deshalb eine milde Creme.
My friend has sensitive skin, so he uses a mild cream.