sich übergeben
To vomit
Literalmente: to hand oneself over
Use `sich übergeben` whenever you need to mention vomiting without sounding gross or unprofessional.
Em 15 segundos
- 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.
Significado
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.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 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.
Contexto cultural
The phrase reflects a linguistic 'softening' of a harsh reality. While German is often seen as a blunt language, `sich übergeben` shows a preference for euphemisms in social settings. It has been the standard polite form for centuries, balancing the line between clinical and social speech.
The Reflexive Rule
Always remember the 'sich'. Without it, you are 'handing over' something like a document. Adding 'sich' turns it into the bodily function!
Watch the Slang
Avoid 'kotzen' unless you are with very close friends in a casual setting. It can sound quite aggressive or gross to strangers.
Em 15 segundos
- 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.
Notas de uso
Always ensure the reflexive pronoun matches the subject. In professional settings, this is your safest bet to avoid sounding vulgar while remaining clear.
The Reflexive Rule
Always remember the 'sich'. Without it, you are 'handing over' something like a document. Adding 'sich' turns it into the bodily function!
Watch the Slang
Avoid 'kotzen' unless you are with very close friends in a casual setting. It can sound quite aggressive or gross to strangers.
The 'Handover' Logic
Think of it as 'handing back' your meal. It’s a weirdly polite way to think about it, but it helps you remember the word `übergeben`!
Exemplos
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.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun for 'I'.
Ich glaube, ich muss ___ übergeben.
Since the subject is 'Ich', the reflexive pronoun must be 'mich'.
Choose the correct past tense form.
Er hat ___ gestern übergeben.
The subject 'Er' requires the reflexive pronoun 'sich'.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Ways to say 'to vomit' in German
Clinical and very formal
erbrechen
Polite and safe for all
sich übergeben
Informal and descriptive
reihern
Vulgar and blunt
kotzen
When to say 'sich übergeben'
At the Doctor
Explaining symptoms
At Work
Calling in sick
With Family
Reporting a sick child
Polite Company
Leaving a party early
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt is neutral to slightly formal. It is the most appropriate word for professional and polite social settings.
Yes, it is perfectly fine with friends. It just sounds a bit more polite than saying kotzen.
erbrechen is more medical and formal, while sich übergeben is the standard everyday polite term.
Yes, when it means 'to vomit', it must have a reflexive pronoun like mich, dich, or sich.
It means 'to hand over' or 'to surrender' something, like Er übergab den Schlüssel (He handed over the key).
It is not a swear word, but it is very informal and can be considered gross or rude in the wrong company.
You can say Ich habe das Gefühl, mich übergeben zu müssen or simply Mir ist schlecht.
Yes, the noun is das Übergeben, but doctors usually use das Erbrechen.
Absolutely! It is the perfect word to use if you get sick on a boat or in a car.
No, sich übergeben is understood and used the same way all across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Frases relacionadas
sich erbrechen
to vomit (medical/formal)
kotzen
to puke (informal/slang)
mir ist schlecht
I feel sick/nauseous
reihern
to vomit (colloquial/funny)
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