Today's words · 💪 Health
Healthy body, healthy mind: 10 German words
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That word Germans say when you sneeze? It actually means ‘health’.
Every January my German friends make the same resolution: “Ich will gesünder leben!” Move more, eat well, sleep properly. But when I tried to join in, I didn't have the words.
Today's ten words are all about a healthy lifestyle. With them you can talk about food, exercise, sleep and stress in German. 💪
📋 The ten words at a glance
🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks
gesund
[guh-ZOONT]healthy(gesund – gesünder – am gesündesten)
📌 Obst ist gesund.
→ Fruit is healthy.
💡 Same root as English sound, as in safe and sound 🍎 Obst ist gesund!
Bonus Umlaut in the comparative: gesund – gesünder – am gesündesten
die Gesundheit
[guh-ZOONT-hite]health(no pl.)
📌 Sport ist gut für die Gesundheit.
→ Sport is good for your health.
💡 gesund + -heit = health 🤧 -heit nouns are always die — and it's what you say after a sneeze!
Bonus The person who sneezed just answers “Danke!”
die Ernährung
[air-NAIR-oong]diet, nutrition(no pl.)
📌 Eine gesunde Ernährung ist wichtig für den Körper.
→ A healthy diet is important for the body.
💡 nähren (to nourish) is inside 🥗 -ung, so die.
Bonus eine gesunde Ernährung = a healthy diet
die Bewegung
[buh-VAY-goong]movement; exercise(Pl. die Bewegungen)
📌 Bewegung ist gut für die Gesundheit.
→ Exercise is good for your health.
💡 bewegen (to move) + -ung = movement 🚶 Any activity counts, not just the gym.
Bonus Ich brauche mehr Bewegung. = I need to move more.
der Schlaf
[SHLAHF]sleep(Sg.)
📌 Ich brauche mindestens acht Stunden Schlaf.
→ I need at least eight hours of sleep.
💡 Looks a lot like sleep, doesn't it? 😴 Drop the -en from schlafen and you have the noun.
Bonus Schlaf gut! = Sleep well!
der Stress
[SHTRESS]stress((no pl.))
📌 Ich habe gerade viel Stress.
→ I'm under a lot of stress at the moment.
💡 English stress, but say the st as ‘sht’ 😵
Bonus Ich habe Stress mit meinem Chef. = I'm having trouble with my boss.
das Gewicht
[guh-VIKHT]weight(Pl. die Gewichte)
📌 Ich achte auf mein Gewicht.
→ I watch my weight.
💡 From wiegen (to weigh) ⚖️ A cousin of English weight.
Bonus auf sein Gewicht achten = to watch your weight
abnehmen
[AP-nay-men]to decrease; to lose weight; to take (off)(nimmt ab – hat abgenommen)
📌 Ich habe drei Kilo abgenommen.
→ I've lost three kilos.
💡 ab- (off) + nehmen (to take) = take the kilos off 📉
⚠ Separable: Ich nehme ab. The opposite is zunehmen (to gain weight).
entspannen
[ent-SHPAN-en]to relax(entspannt – hat entspannt)
📌 Am Wochenende will ich nur entspannen.
→ At the weekend I just want to relax.
💡 ent- (un-) + spannen (to tighten) = untighten, relax 🧘
Bonus Often reflexive: Entspann dich! = Relax!
die Vorbeugung
[FOR-boy-goong]prevention(Sg.)
📌 Regelmäßige Bewegung dient der Vorbeugung von Herzkrankheiten.
→ Regular exercise helps prevent heart disease.
💡 vor (before) + beugen (to bend) = head it off in advance 🛡️ Stop illness before it starts.
Bonus You'll also see die Prävention.
🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture
Germans love a walk (Spaziergang), especially on Sunday afternoons in a park or forest. Even when it's grey, heading out for some “frische Luft” is completely normal.
Fresh air matters indoors too. Many people open their windows wide several times a day to air the room (Lüften), even briefly in winter.
Saunas are another popular habit. Many German saunas are mixed and swimwear-free, so if it's your first time, check the rules beforehand. 🧖
✅ Quick quiz
Q. Your colleague sneezes loudly. What do you say?
- ① Entspann dich!
- ② Gesundheit!
- ③ Ich habe drei Kilo abgenommen.
Show the answer
② Gesundheit!
After a sneeze, Germans say “Gesundheit!” (literally ‘health!’).
Say one German sentence each about your Ernährung, Bewegung and Schlaf today. Then go for a little Spaziergang! 🚶♀️
🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 💄 Beauty & skincare