01
die Erkrankung
illness
The state of being sick; a specific disease or ailment.
example
Die Grippe ist eine ansteckende Erkrankung der Atemwege.
The flu is a contagious illness of the respiratory tract.
die Erkrankung
illness
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word structure
The noun 'Erkrankung' (illness) comes from the verb 'erkranken' (to fall ill). The prefix 'er-' often indicates the beginning of a process (becoming sick), and the ending '-ung' turns the verb into a noun.
EXAMPLE
Nach seiner schweren Erkrankung musste er sich lange erholen.
After his serious illness, he had to recover for a long time.
Register
The word 'Erkrankung' (illness) is often used in medical, scientific, or formal contexts. It often sounds more official than the word 'Krankheit' (disease/illness).
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt diagnostizierte eine seltene Erkrankung des Immunsystems.
The doctor diagnosed a rare illness of the immune system.
Typical adjectives
'Erkrankung' (illness) is often combined with adjectives that describe severity or course, for example: 'eine schwere Erkrankung' (a serious illness), 'eine chronische Erkrankung' (a chronic illness), or 'eine psychische Erkrankung' (a mental illness).
EXAMPLE
Krebs ist eine ernsthafte Erkrankung, die früh erkannt werden sollte.
Cancer is a serious illness that should be detected early.
Sentence structure with genitive
To describe which body part or system is affected, the genitive is often used. This sounds very precise and is common in specialist texts.
EXAMPLE
Er leidet an einer Erkrankung der Atemwege.
He suffers from an illness of the respiratory tract.
Compare with
Erkrankung vs Gesundheit
health
'die Gesundheit' and 'die Erkrankung' are opposites in meaning. 'Gesundheit' means the good state in which the body and mind are, as far as possible, not under strain. 'Erkrankung' means an illness, or the beginning and course of becoming ill. 'Erkrankung' sounds somewhat more medical and precise than 'Krankheit' (illness / disease). It is often used when talking about a specific diagnosis, treatment, or course of an illness. 'Gesundheit', by contrast, is the general positive state that you want to maintain or improve.
Erkrankung
Die Ärztin erklärte die Erkrankung ruhig und verständlich.
The doctor explained the illness calmly and clearly.
Gesundheit
Im Urlaub achtet Maria besonders auf ihre Gesundheit.
On vacation, Maria pays special attention to her health.
In real life
Loading video examples...