The German Medical Verbs You Need to Know for the FSP
- Doris Fiumanò
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
The Essential Verb Vocabulary for Italian Doctors Preparing for the Fachsprachprüfung: From Diagnosis to Treatment, in German
One of the most underestimated aspects of FSP preparation is verb vocabulary. It's not enough to be able to describe symptoms and ask the patient questions: during the case presentation to the Oberarzt and when writing the Arztbrief, you need to use the right technical verbs — the ones a doctor actually uses in a German hospital context.
Using the wrong verb, or worse, using an Italian phrase disguised as German, is one of the mistakes the examination board notices immediately.
Here are the fundamental verbs you need to master.
The Essential Medical Verbs in German
German | English |
feststellen | to determine / establish |
verneinen | to deny |
empfehlen | to recommend |
untersuchen | to examine |
diagnostizieren | to diagnose |
behandeln | to treat |
veranlassen | to order / arrange |
ausschließen | to rule out |
bestätigen | to confirm |
abhorchen | to auscultate |
aufklären | to inform the patient |
operieren | to operate |
The Essential Verb Vocabulary for Italian Doctors Preparing for the Fachsprachprüfung: From Diagnosis to Treatment, in German
How to Actually Use Them in the FSP
Knowing the verbs is the first step — but knowing how to fit them into the right sentences is what makes the difference in the exam. Here are some usage examples in the context of the case presentation or the Arztbrief:
feststellen → Bei der Untersuchung wurde eine Tachykardie festgestellt. (A tachycardia was detected during the examination.)ausschließen → Eine Lungenembolie muss ausgeschlossen werden. (A pulmonary embolism must be ruled out.)veranlassen → Es wurden ein EKG und eine Blutabnahme veranlasst. (An ECG and a blood draw were ordered.)aufklären → Der Patient wurde über die Risiken des Eingriffs aufgeklärt. (The patient was informed about the risks of the procedure.)behandeln → Der Patient wird mit Ibuprofen 400 mg behandelt. (The patient is being treated with ibuprofen 400 mg.)
Why These Verbs Matter So Much
During the case presentation in the FSP, you have to transform what the patient told you into specialized medical language — the so-called Fachsprache. This is exactly where these verbs come into play: they signal to the examination board that you can move fluently and correctly from a colloquial register to a professional one.
Saying "Der Patient hat Schmerzen" is fine for the anamnesis. But in the case presentation you need to say "Es wurde eine Schmerzanamnese erhoben" or "Eine kardiale Ursache muss ausgeschlossen werden" — and the difference is noticeable.
Want to Practice the Entire Medical Vocabulary?
This list is just a starting point. Medical vocabulary in German is extremely broad, and every specialty has its own terminology: cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, pneumology, and so on.
With RevolingoMed you can prepare in a targeted way, with materials designed specifically for doctors facing the FSP:
Medical vocabulary for every specialty and clinical case
Practical exercises transforming Patientensprache into Fachsprache
Full simulations of all three exam parts
6 months of free access to Google Classroom if you enroll in one of my courses or take lessons with me
This article is for informational purposes only. The vocabulary presented is a basic selection; the vocabulary required for the FSP varies depending on the clinical case and the Bundesland in which the exam is taken.
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