das Leiden
suffering
Physical or emotional pain and the distress associated with it.
EXAMPLE
Das Leiden der Angehörigen war deutlich zu spüren.
The suffering of the family members was clearly palpable.
das Leiden
suffering / ailment
das Leiden, die Leiden
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Meanings
das Leiden
ailment
An illness or health condition that someone suffers from over a longer period of time.
EXAMPLE
Das Leiden des Patienten konnte mit Medikamenten gelindert werden.
The patient's ailment could be alleviated with medication.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Leiden, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Leiden |
| genitive | des Leidens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Leiden | die Leiden |
| accusative | das Leiden | die Leiden |
| dative | dem Leiden | den Leiden |
| genitive | des Leidens | der Leiden |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Nominalized verb
'Das Leiden' (suffering) is formed from the verb 'leiden' (to suffer). As a noun, it refers either to the process and distress of suffering or to a long-term health condition.
EXAMPLE
Das lange Leiden seiner Mutter belastete ihn sehr.
His mother's long suffering placed a great burden on him.
Typical collocations
For physical or emotional pain, common collocations include 'Leiden lindern' (to alleviate suffering), 'Leiden verursachen' (to cause suffering), and 'großes Leiden' (great suffering). Adjectives such as 'seelisch' (emotional) or 'körperlich' (physical) specify the type of suffering.
EXAMPLE
Ein Gespräch mit Freunden kann seelisches Leiden manchmal lindern.
Talking to friends can sometimes alleviate emotional suffering.
Medical context
In a medical context, the noun often occurs in phrases such as 'chronisches Leiden' (chronic ailment), 'ein Leiden lindern' (to alleviate an ailment), or 'ein Leiden behandeln' (to treat an ailment). The verb 'leiden' (to suffer), on the other hand, is used with 'an' and the dative: Someone 'leidet an' (suffers from) an illness.
EXAMPLE
Sie leidet an Rheuma, einem chronischen Leiden, das regelmäßig behandelt werden muss.
She suffers from rheumatism, a chronic ailment that needs to be treated regularly.
In real life
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