01
heilen
to heal
To cause a person or animal to recover from an illness or injury (transitive).
example
Der Arzt konnte die Infektion mit einem neuen Medikament heilen.
The doctor was able to heal the infection with a new medication.
heilen
to heal
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Transitive vs. intransitive
'Heilen' (to heal) can be used transitively (with an accusative object) or intransitively (without an object). A person heals an illness (transitive), but a wound heals on its own (intransitive).
EXAMPLE
Die Kräuterfrau heilt die Kranken des Dorfes.
The herbal healer heals the sick people of the village.
Perfect tense with 'haben' or 'sein'
The perfect tense is formed differently. The transitive action (healing someone) uses 'haben'. The intransitive process (a wound heals) uses 'sein', because it is a change of state.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt hat den Patienten geheilt.
The doctor healed the patient.
Word family
'Heilen' (to heal) belongs to the word family of 'heil', which means 'whole' or 'uninjured'. The goal of healing is to become whole again. The noun 'die Heilung' (healing) also belongs to this family.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Heilung war sein Arm wieder vollkommen heil.
After the healing, his arm was completely whole again.
Use with 'von'
When you want to express what someone is healed of, you use the preposition 'von' followed by the dative.
EXAMPLE
Er wurde von seiner Angst vor Spinnen geheilt.
He was healed of his fear of spiders.
Emotional healing
In the figurative sense, 'heilen' (to heal) is often connected with emotional pain. A well-known saying is: 'Die Zeit heilt alle Wunden.' (Time heals all wounds.)
EXAMPLE
Nach der Trennung braucht ihr Herz Zeit, um zu heilen.
After the breakup, her heart needs time to heal.
Compare with
heilen vs helfen
to help
'helfen' and 'heilen' can both be used in connection with illness, pain, or injuries. 'helfen' only says that something has a good effect or makes a problem better. 'heilen' is more specific: a person, an animal, an illness, or a wound becomes healthy again. Learners may confuse the words because a medication can help and sometimes also support healing. But not everything that helps truly heals. A painkiller can help without healing the cause.
heilen
Die kleine Wunde am Arm heilt langsam, aber ohne Probleme.
The small wound on my arm is healing slowly, but without any problems.
helfen
Dieser Tee hilft mir gegen Halsschmerzen.
This tea helps me with a sore throat.
In real life
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