German word

Krankenschwester

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkʁaŋkŋ̩ˌʃvɛstɐ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounnurse

Example

Die Krankenschwestern arbeiten im Krankenhaus.

The nurses work in the hospital.

Illustration for Krankenschwester (nurse)

More examples

Die leitende Krankenschwester koordinierte die Schichtübergabe.

The head nurse coordinated the shift handover.

Core concept

A trained caregiver moves between hospital beds, checking patients, giving treatment, and handling practical nursing tasks.

Common phrases

  • leitende Krankenschwester

    head nurse

  • examinierte Krankenschwester

    qualified nurse

Similar words

Pflegekraft: A gender-neutral care worker tending to patients or residents in hospitals or care facilities.
Krankenpfleger: A male hospital nurse providing everyday care, medication, and patient support on a ward.
Pflegerin: A female care worker helping patients or residents with personal care and daily activities.
Gesundheits- und Krankenpfleger: A formally trained nurse providing clinical nursing and medical care in a hospital.

Definition in German

Eine Person, die kranke Menschen pflegt und im Krankenhaus oder Pflegeheim medizinische sowie pflegerische Aufgaben übernimmt.

Word origin

Krankenschwester combines krank, meaning 'ill', with Schwester, originally 'sister', and came to denote a woman caring for sick people.

Usage tips

  • Krankenschwester is grammatically feminine; the plural is Krankenschwestern, while Pflegefachkraft is a gender-neutral professional term.

Related words

  • Krankenschwesterausbildungnurse trainingnoun
  • Krankenschwesterprüfungnursing examnoun

Word lists with this word