In 15 Seconds
- The polite, standard German way to say 'to vomit'.
- Always use a reflexive pronoun like 'mich' or 'sich'.
- Safe for work, doctors, and polite social company.
Meaning
This is the polite, standard way to say someone vomited. It is the phrase you use when you want to be respectful but clear about being sick.
Key Examples
3 of 6At the doctor's office
Ich musste mich heute Morgen mehrmals übergeben.
I had to vomit several times this morning.
Texting a friend about a bad night
Mir war so schlecht, dass ich mich übergeben musste.
I felt so sick that I had to throw up.
Calling in sick to work
Ich kann heute nicht kommen, ich übergebe mich ständig.
I can't come in today; I'm vomiting constantly.
Cultural Background
Germans are very direct about health but prefer formal terms for 'unclean' acts. Using 'sich übergeben' in a pharmacy will get you immediate, serious help. In Austria, you might hear 'speiben' more often than in Northern Germany. It is slightly less formal than 'sich übergeben' but very common. Swiss German has many local variations (like 'go chotze'), but in High German contexts (Standarddeutsch), 'sich übergeben' remains the gold standard for politeness. It is culturally acceptable to be specific about symptoms like vomiting when calling in sick, as it proves the severity of the illness.
The 'Sich' Rule
Always remember the 'sich'. If you forget it, you are just 'handing over' nothing, which confuses Germans.
Avoid 'Kotzen' with Bosses
Even if you are very sick, using 'kotzen' with a superior can seem unprofessional. Stick to 'sich übergeben'.
In 15 Seconds
- The polite, standard German way to say 'to vomit'.
- Always use a reflexive pronoun like 'mich' or 'sich'.
- Safe for work, doctors, and polite social company.
What It Means
Imagine you are at a nice dinner party. You suddenly feel very unwell. You wouldn't use a gross slang word to explain your exit. Instead, you use sich übergeben. It is the standard German expression for vomiting. It sounds much softer than the English 'throw up'. It is the 'safe' choice for almost any situation.
How To Use It
This phrase is a reflexive verb. That means you always need a reflexive pronoun like mich, dich, or sich. You conjugate the verb übergeben just like a normal verb. For example, you say Ich übergebe mich. In the past tense, it becomes Ich habe mich übergeben. It feels a bit like you are surrendering to your stomach's demands. Just remember that the sich is non-negotiable here.
When To Use It
Use this when talking to a doctor or a boss. It is perfect for professional settings. You can also use it with friends if you want to sound a bit more 'civilized' while being miserable. If you are texting a colleague to say you are sick, this is your best friend. It shows you are ill without being overly graphic. It is the gold standard for polite medical talk.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this if you are trying to be funny or 'one of the guys' at a rowdy bar. In very informal settings, it might sound a bit too formal or stiff. If you are watching a gross-out comedy, characters will likely use slang instead. Also, do not confuse it with the non-reflexive übergeben. Without the sich, it just means 'to hand something over', like a trophy or a document. Handing over a trophy is much better than the alternative!
Cultural Background
Germans value directness but also maintain a sense of clinical distance with bodily functions. The word übergeben literally means 'to hand over'. It is as if your body is 'handing over' its contents back to the world. It became the standard polite term because it avoids the harsh sounds of more descriptive words. It reflects the German desire to keep things 'ordentlich' (orderly), even when things are messy.
Common Variations
If you are at the doctor, you might hear erbrechen. That is the very formal, medical term. On the flip side, if you are with close friends, you might hear kotzen. That is the equivalent of 'to puke'. It is very blunt and a bit vulgar. There is also reihern, which is a funny way to describe the action, like a heron catching a fish. Stick to sich übergeben to stay on everyone's good side.
Usage Notes
Always ensure the reflexive pronoun matches the subject. In professional settings, this is your safest bet to avoid sounding vulgar while remaining clear.
The 'Sich' Rule
Always remember the 'sich'. If you forget it, you are just 'handing over' nothing, which confuses Germans.
Avoid 'Kotzen' with Bosses
Even if you are very sick, using 'kotzen' with a superior can seem unprofessional. Stick to 'sich übergeben'.
The 'Toilet' Euphemism
Often, Germans won't even say 'sich übergeben'. They will say 'Ich muss mal kurz austreten' or 'Mir ist nicht gut' and disappear.
Examples
6Ich musste mich heute Morgen mehrmals übergeben.
I had to vomit several times this morning.
A clear, professional way to describe symptoms to a doctor.
Mir war so schlecht, dass ich mich übergeben musste.
I felt so sick that I had to throw up.
Polite even among friends when describing a rough time.
Ich kann heute nicht kommen, ich übergebe mich ständig.
I can't come in today; I'm vomiting constantly.
Appropriate level of detail for a boss or HR.
Das Kind hat sich im Auto übergeben.
The child threw up in the car.
Standard way to report a messy situation without being vulgar.
Bei dem Anblick des Essens möchte man sich fast übergeben.
At the sight of that food, you almost want to throw up.
Using the polite term to make a sarcastic or funny point.
Ich finde sein Verhalten so schlimm, ich könnte mich übergeben.
I find his behavior so bad, I could throw up.
Using the physical act as a metaphor for moral disgust.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.
Ich fühle mich nicht gut. Ich glaube, ich muss ___ übergeben.
The subject is 'ich', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'mich'.
Which sentence is correct for a doctor's visit?
How do you say 'I threw up'?
'Ich habe mich übergeben' is the correct Perfekt form and the right register.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Warum warst du gestern nicht in der Schule? B: Ich war krank. Ich habe mich den ganzen Tag ________.
The past participle of 'übergeben' is 'übergeben' (no 'ge-' because it's inseparable).
Match the verb to the situation.
1. Formal/Doctor, 2. Very Slang/Friends, 3. Clinical/Medicine
'Sich übergeben' is neutral/formal, 'kotzen' is slang, and 'erbrechen' is clinical.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Vomiting Registers in German
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIch fühle mich nicht gut. Ich glaube, ich muss ___ übergeben.
The subject is 'ich', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'mich'.
How do you say 'I threw up'?
'Ich habe mich übergeben' is the correct Perfekt form and the right register.
A: Warum warst du gestern nicht in der Schule? B: Ich war krank. Ich habe mich den ganzen Tag ________.
The past participle of 'übergeben' is 'übergeben' (no 'ge-' because it's inseparable).
1. Formal/Doctor, 2. Very Slang/Friends, 3. Clinical/Medicine
'Sich übergeben' is neutral/formal, 'kotzen' is slang, and 'erbrechen' is clinical.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, you can use it for pets. 'Der Hund hat sich übergeben' is perfectly normal.
'Erbrechen' is more clinical/medical. 'Sich übergeben' is the standard polite term for daily life.
No. 'Kotzen' is not reflexive. You just say 'Ich habe gekotzt'.
No, it is inseparable. You never say 'Ich gebe mich über'.
It's a pun. It literally means 'to think about the meal' but figuratively means 'to vomit'.
Use: 'Ich glaube, ich muss mich übergeben' or 'Mir ist zum Übergeben zumute'.
Yes, it's very common in texts to explain why you are late or missing an event.
Because verbs with inseparable prefixes (like über-, be-, ent-, ver-) do not take 'ge-' in the past participle.
No, that's an English metaphor. In German, it's strictly physical.
The noun is '{das|n} Übergeben', but people usually use '{das|n} Erbrechen' or '{der|m} Brechreiz'.
Related Phrases
erbrechen
synonymto vomit (clinical)
kotzen
synonymto puke (slang)
übel sein
builds onto feel nauseous
etwas übergeben
contrastto hand something over
