German word

erkranken

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈkraŋkən/

Meaning

  • verbget sick

Example

Viele Kinder erkranken im Winter.

Many children get sick in winter.

Illustration for erkranken (get sick)

More examples

Viele Erwachsene erkranken nach Reisen an einer seltenen Infektion.

Many adults fall ill with a rare infection after traveling.

Core concept

A healthy body crosses into illness, with the new condition often identified by name.

Common phrases

  • an Grippe erkranken

    come down with the flu

  • an einer Infektion erkranken

    contract an infection

Similar words

krank werden: Become ill or unwell, without specifying a particular disease.
krank sein: Already be in a state of illness or poor health.
sich erkälten: Catch or develop a cold with mild nose or throat symptoms.
sich anstecken: Become ill after receiving pathogens from someone nearby.

Definition in German

Intransitives Verb; krank werden, oft in Verbindung mit einer konkreten Krankheit.

Word origin

Erkranken combines the change-of-state prefix "er-" with "krank", a word inherited from Old High German "kranc".

Usage tips

  • Erkranken sounds more formal and clinical than the everyday phrase "krank werden", so it is common in medical and news writing.

Other meanings

  • contract a diseaseverb

Opposites

  • gesund bleibenstay healthyverb

Related words

Word lists with this word