die Schwester
sister
A female person who has the same parents as another person.
EXAMPLE
Meine Schwester und ich verstehen uns sehr gut.
My sister and I get along very well.
die Schwester
sister
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Meanings
die Schwester
nurse
A common term for a nurse, that is, a female nursing professional in healthcare.
EXAMPLE
Die Schwester auf der Station hat mir den Verband gewechselt.
The nurse on the ward changed my bandage.
die Schwester
sister / nun
A female member of a religious community or order; a nun.
EXAMPLE
Schwester Agnes leitet den Chor im Kloster.
Sister Agnes leads the choir in the monastery.
Usage tips
Context clues
The context shows which 'Schwester' (sister/nurse/nun) is meant. Words like 'Eltern' (parents) or 'Bruder' (brother) point to family. A medical setting ('Krankenhaus' (hospital), 'Arzt' (doctor)) refers to a nurse. Religious terms like 'Kloster' (monastery/convent) or 'Orden' (religious order) signal a nun.
EXAMPLE
Meine jüngere Schwester studiert Medizin.
My younger sister is studying medicine.
Use as a form of address
In a hospital or doctor's office, it is common to address a female nurse directly as 'Schwester' (nurse), often without knowing her name.
EXAMPLE
Schwester, könnten Sie mir bitte ein Glas Wasser bringen?
Nurse, could you please bring me a glass of water?
Use as a title
With nuns, 'Schwester' (Sister) is used like a title, normally followed by the person's first name. It is a respectful form of address.
EXAMPLE
Schwester Johanna leitet den Kindergarten des Ordens.
Sister Johanna runs the order's kindergarten.
Compare with
Schwester vs Krankenschwester
nurse
In a hospital, both words can refer to a female nursing professional. Schwester is a traditional, context-dependent abbreviated term and is not unambiguous outside this context, while Krankenschwester explicitly names the profession. Use Schwester in the appropriate hospital-ward context and Krankenschwester when the job title should be clear.
Schwester
Auf der Station bat ich die Schwester, den Verband zu wechseln.
On the ward, I asked the nurse to change the bandage.
Krankenschwester
Im Gespräch stellte sich die Krankenschwester als erfahrene Pflegekraft vor.
During the conversation, the nurse introduced herself as an experienced healthcare professional.
In real life
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