German · Entschuldigung / Krankmeldung
Your child is ill and you phone the school: what to say in German
Your child is ill and you phone the school.
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How it's done. Illness is reported to the Sekretariat in the morning before lessons; afterwards a written Entschuldigung (excuse note) from the parents is needed.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
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Schulsekretariat, guten Morgen!SHOOL-zeh-kreh-tuh-ree-uht, GOO-tayn MOR-gayn!
School office, good morning!
YOU REPLY
Guten Morgen, hier ist Olena Kovalenko. Meine Tochter ist krank und kommt heute nicht zur Schule.
GOO-tayn MOR-gayn, kheer eest oh-LEH-nuh koh-VAH-layn-koh. MIGH-neh TOKH-tuh eest krahnk oont komt KHOY-teh neekht tsoor SHOO-leh.
Good morning, this is Olena Kovalenko. My daughter is ill and won't come to school today.
THEY SAY
Wie heißt Ihre Tochter, und in welcher Klasse ist sie?Vee khighst EE-reh TOKH-tuh, oont een VEL-khuh KLAH-seh eest zee?
What is your daughter's name and which class is she in?
They might also say:
In welche Klasse geht Ihre Tochter, und wie heißt sie?
Een VEL-kheh KLAH-seh get EE-reh TOKH-tuh, oont vee khighst zee?
Which class does your daughter go to and what is she called?
2
YOU FINISH
Sie heißt Sofia und ist in der Klasse drei b.
Zee khighst SOH-fee-ah oont eest een dehr KLAH-seh drigh beh.
Her name is Sofia and she is in class three b.
THEY SAY
Danke, ich gebe der Lehrerin Bescheid. Gute Besserung!DAHN-keh, eekh GEH-beh dehr LEH-reh-reen beh-SHIGHT. GOO-teh beh-SEH-roong!
Thank you, I'll tell the teacher. Get well soon!
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
Schulsekretariat
SHOOL-zeh-kreh-tuh-ree-uht
noun
school office
guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Morgen
MOR-gayn
noun
morning
hier
kheer
adverb
here
ist
eest
verb
is
Tochter
TOKH-tuh
noun
daughter
28 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?
Ich spreche noch nicht gut Deutsch.
Eekh SHPREH-kheh nokh neekht goot doych.
I don't speak German well yet.
Similar situations
Your child is coming back after an illness and needs a noteEntschuldigung / Krankmeldung · A2 in the app
→Your child has a doctor's appointment during lessons and you ask for them to be let outEntschuldigung / Krankmeldung · A2 in the app
→The school asks for proof of the measles vaccinationEntschuldigung / Krankmeldung · A2 in the app
→You book a meeting with the teacherElternabend / Elterngespräch · A2 in the app
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