German · Hausarztpraxis
You ask for a sick note for your employer: what to say in German
You ask for a sick note for your employer.
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How it's done. The doctor issues the sick note (Krankschreibung, AU); today it mostly goes to the employer electronically, but ask whether you need a paper copy.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Ich brauche eine Krankschreibung für meinen Arbeitgeber.
Eekh BROW-kheh IGH-neh KRAHNKSH-righ-boong fyoor MIGH-nayn AHR-bight-geh-buh.
I need a sick note for my employer.
Or say:Könnten Sie mich bitte krankschreiben? Ich kann nicht arbeiten.
KYOHN-tayn zee meekh BEE-teh KRAHNKSH-righ-bayn? Eekh kahn neekht AHR-bigh-tayn.
THEY SAY
Ja, ich schreibe Sie bis Freitag krank.Yah, eekh SHRIGH-beh zee bees FRIGH-tuhk krahnk.
Yes, I'll sign you off sick until Friday.
They might also say:
Das mache ich. Für wie lange soll es sein?
Dahs MAH-kheh eekh. Fyoor vee LAHN-geh zol es zighn?
I'll do that. For how long should it be?
2
YOU REPLY
Wird sie elektronisch an meinen Arbeitgeber geschickt?
Veert zee eh-lek-TROH-neesh ahn MIGH-nayn AHR-bight-geh-buh geh-SHEEKT?
Is it sent electronically to my employer?
THEY SAY
Ja, das geht automatisch. Sie bekommen noch einen Ausdruck.Yah, dahs get ow-toh-MAH-teesh. Zee beh-KOH-mayn nokh IGH-nayn OWS-drook.
Yes, that happens automatically. You also get a printout.
3
YOU FINISH
Vielen Dank!
FEE-layn dahnk!
Thank you very much!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
brauche
BROW-kheh
verb
I need
Krankschreibung
KRAHNKSH-righ-boong
noun
sick note
Arbeitgeber
AHR-bight-geh-buh
noun
employer
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
schreibe
SHRIGH-beh
verb
I write
Freitag
FRIGH-tuhk
noun
Friday
20 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
The doctor writes a prescription and you ask how to get itHausarztpraxis · A2 in the app
→You want a flu jabHausarztpraxis · A2 in the app
→The doctor examines you and gives simple instructionsHausarztpraxis · A2 in the app
→You phone the surgery and ask about your blood test resultsHausarztpraxis · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report