German edit

Etymology edit

erkranken +‎ -ung

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ɛrˈkraŋkʊŋ/, [ʔɛɐ̯ˈkʁaŋkʊŋ]
  • (file)

Noun edit

Erkrankung f (genitive Erkrankung, plural Erkrankungen)

  1. (slightly formal) the act or process of falling ill
  2. (slightly formal) illness; disease
    Synonym: Krankheit
    • 1931, Arthur Schnitzler, Flucht in die Finsternis, S. Fischer Verlag, page 84:
      [...] und manche beglückwünschten ihn zu seiner Genesung in so scherzhaftem Ton, als hätten sie seine Erkrankung nie recht ernst genommen.
      [...] and some congratulated him on his recovery in such a jocular tone that it seemed they had never taken his illness quite seriously.

Usage notes edit

  • (illness, disease): Though Erkrankung may be used interchangeably with Krankheit, it tends to refer to an illness as it manifests itself in a particular afflicted person, rather than the type or syndrome as such.

Declension edit

Related terms edit

Further reading edit