Signification
Express that you have a headache.
Contexte culturel
The concept of 'Wetterfühligkeit' is very real in Germany. People often blame their headaches on the 'Luftdruck' (air pressure) or 'Wetterumschwung' (weather change). In Austria, especially in the south, the 'Föhn' (a warm, dry wind coming off the Alps) is a legendary cause of headaches. It's even sometimes accepted as a mitigating factor in legal or social contexts. Germans value 'Ehrlichkeit' (honesty). If you have a headache, it's better to say it directly than to make up a vague excuse. However, you are expected to try an 'Aspirin' before giving up on work. Pharmacists in Germany (Apotheker) are highly trained and will often ask 'Wo tut es weh?' to give you the right type of 'Schmerzmittel' (painkiller).
The 'Mir' Rule
Always remember that the person is the 'victim' in the dative case. If you forget 'mir', the sentence sounds like the head is hurting itself!
Don't use 'haben' with 'weh'
Never say 'Ich habe Kopf weh'. It's either 'Ich habe Kopfschmerzen' or 'Mir tut der Kopf weh'.
Signification
Express that you have a headache.
The 'Mir' Rule
Always remember that the person is the 'victim' in the dative case. If you forget 'mir', the sentence sounds like the head is hurting itself!
Don't use 'haben' with 'weh'
Never say 'Ich habe Kopf weh'. It's either 'Ich habe Kopfschmerzen' or 'Mir tut der Kopf weh'.
Weather Talk
If you want to sound like a local, blame your headache on the 'Wetterumschwung' (weather change). It's a great conversation starter.
Plurality
If both your head and your neck hurt, use the plural: 'Mir tun der Kopf und der Nacken weh'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct dative pronoun and verb form.
___ (I) ___ (to hurt) {der|m} Kopf weh.
The person must be dative ('Mir') and the verb must be singular ('tut') to agree with '{der|m} Kopf'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'My head hurts' in a conversation?
A) Ich habe Kopf weh. B) Mir tut {der|m} Kopf weh. C) Mein Kopf schmerzt mir. D) Ich tue {der|m} Kopf weh.
'Mir tut der Kopf weh' is the standard idiomatic expression.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: Warum nimmst du eine Tablette? B: Weil ________.
In a 'weil' clause, the conjugated verb ('tut') goes to the end, but 'weh' stays attached or just before it.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a loud concert and your head starts to throb.
This is the appropriate expression for physical pain caused by noise.
Put the sentence in the past tense (Perfekt).
Gestern ___ mir {der|m} Kopf ___.
The verb 'wehtun' uses 'haben' in the perfect tense and the participle is 'wehgetan'.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Headache Expressions
Banque d exercices
5 exercices___ (I) ___ (to hurt) {der|m} Kopf weh.
The person must be dative ('Mir') and the verb must be singular ('tut') to agree with '{der|m} Kopf'.
A) Ich habe Kopf weh. B) Mir tut {der|m} Kopf weh. C) Mein Kopf schmerzt mir. D) Ich tue {der|m} Kopf weh.
'Mir tut der Kopf weh' is the standard idiomatic expression.
A: Warum nimmst du eine Tablette? B: Weil ________.
In a 'weil' clause, the conjugated verb ('tut') goes to the end, but 'weh' stays attached or just before it.
You are at a loud concert and your head starts to throb.
This is the appropriate expression for physical pain caused by noise.
Gestern ___ mir {der|m} Kopf ___.
The verb 'wehtun' uses 'haben' in the perfect tense and the participle is 'wehgetan'.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsYes, it is grammatically correct and common, but 'Mir tut der Kopf weh' is slightly more idiomatic in spoken German.
'Kopfschmerzen' is more formal/standard. 'Kopfweh' is more colloquial and common in Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Yes, it is an infinitive, but it separates in a sentence: 'Es tut weh'.
The verb 'wehtun' always requires the dative case for the person being hurt.
Usually, we use 'Es tut mir weh' (It hurts me) for emotional pain, but 'Mir tut der Kopf weh' is almost always physical.
Use the perfect tense: 'Mir hat der Kopf wehgetan'.
Yes, it is a neutral and polite way to explain why you are unwell.
It's a slang way to say you have a very bad, throbbing headache, often from a hangover.
No, 'der Kopf' is enough because 'mir' already tells us whose head it is.
Yes! 'Mir tun die Füße weh' (My feet hurt) or 'Das tut weh!' (That hurts!).
In very casual speech, you might just say 'Kopfweh...' while holding your head.
It's the belief that weather changes cause physical symptoms like headaches, very common in Germany.
It's usually used in the singular. For plural, use 'Kopfschmerzen'.
You ask: 'Wo tut es weh?'
Expressions liées
Ich habe Kopfschmerzen
synonymI have a headache
Mir brummt {der|m} Schädel
similarMy skull is buzzing
Mir tut {der|m} Bauch weh
builds onMy stomach hurts
Es tut mir leid
similarI am sorry
Kopf hoch!
contrastKeep your head up!
Sich {der|m} Kopf zerbrechen
specialized formTo rack one's brains
