bruise / contusion
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bruise / contusion
An injury caused by a bump or blow in which the skin does not break open. The tissue under the skin is compressed, which often leads to a bruise and pain.
Nach dem Sturz vom Fahrrad hatte er eine schmerzhafte Prellung am Knie.
After falling off his bike, he had a painful bruise on his knee.
The noun 'Prellung' (bruise/contusion) is derived from the verb 'prellen' (to bruise/injure by impact), which means 'to injure by a bump or blow.' The ending '-ung' is a typical way to form a noun from a verb that describes the action or its result.
Ich habe mir den Kopf am Regal geprellt.
I bruised my head on the shelf.
The reflexive phrase 'sich eine Prellung zuziehen' (to sustain a bruise/contusion) is used very often. Other common verbs are 'eine Prellung haben' (to have a bruise/contusion) or 'eine Prellung erleiden' (to suffer a bruise/contusion).
Beim Fußball hat er sich eine Prellung am Knöchel zugezogen.
He sustained a bruise on his ankle while playing soccer.
To indicate the location of the injury, the preposition 'an' followed by the dative is usually used. Alternatively, the preposition 'am' (an + dem) can also be used.
Der Arzt diagnostizierte eine Prellung an der Schulter.
The doctor diagnosed a bruise on the shoulder.
bump / dent
'die Beule' and 'die Prellung' can both occur after a knock or blow. But they do not describe the same thing. 'Beule' means the visible or noticeable raised area on the skin. 'Prellung' means the injury in the tissue under the skin, often with pain and sometimes with bruising. So you can have a 'Prellung' without a clear 'Beule' being visible. The words can be confused because both are used for accidents and falls.
Nach dem Fahrradunfall hat Max eine Prellung am Knie.
After the bicycle accident, Max has a bruise on his knee.
Auf dem Weg zur Arbeit stößt Maria sich den Kopf und bekommt eine Beule.
On the way to work, Maria bumps her head and gets a bump.