German · Krankmeldung / Urlaub
You phone work because you are ill: what to say in German
You phone work to say you are sick.
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How it's done. You have to tell your employer about illness as early as possible, usually in the morning; a longer illness is confirmed by a doctor (Krankschreibung), which is mostly sent electronically today.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
Firma Schneider, guten Morgen!FEER-muh SHNIGH-duh, GOO-tayn MOR-gayn!
Schneider company, good morning!
YOU REPLY
Guten Morgen, hier ist Olena Kovalenko. Ich bin krank und kann heute nicht kommen.
GOO-tayn MOR-gayn, kheer eest oh-LEH-nuh koh-VAH-layn-koh. Eekh been krahnk oont kahn KHOY-teh neekht KOH-mayn.
Good morning, this is Olena Kovalenko. I'm ill and can't come today.
THEY SAY
Oh, das tut mir leid. Gute Besserung! Waren Sie schon beim Arzt?Oh, dahs toot meer light. GOO-teh beh-SEH-roong! VAH-rayn zee shohn bighm ahrtst?
Oh, I'm sorry. Get well soon! Have you been to the doctor yet?
They might also say:
Gute Besserung! Haben Sie einen Termin beim Arzt?
GOO-teh beh-SEH-roong! KHAH-bayn zee IGH-nayn tehr-MEEN bighm ahrtst?
Get well soon! Do you have an appointment with a doctor?
2
YOU FINISH
Ja, ich gehe heute zum Arzt und schicke die Bescheinigung.
Yah, eekh GEH-eh KHOY-teh tsoom ahrtst oont SHEE-keh dee beh-SHIGH-nee-goong.
Yes, I'm going to the doctor today and will send the certificate.
THEY SAY
Gut, dann erholen Sie sich. Danke für die Nachricht.Goot, dahn ehr-KHOH-layn zee zeekh. DAHN-keh fyoor dee NAHKH-reekht.
Good, then rest up. Thanks for letting us know.
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
Firma
FEER-muh
noun
company
guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Morgen
MOR-gayn
noun
morning
hier
kheer
adverb
here
ist
eest
verb
is
bin
been
verb
I am
35 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
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