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Schmerz. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Schmerz, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Schmerz in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
Schmerz you have here. The definition of the word
Schmerz will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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German
Etymology
From Middle High German smerze f, m, from Old High German smerza f, smerzo m, from Proto-West Germanic *smertan. Cognate with Dutch smart, English smart.
Pronunciation
Noun
Schmerz m (mixed, genitive Schmerzes, plural Schmerzen)
- (chiefly in the plural) physical pain, ache (practically, as a sensation)
- Haben Sie Schmerzen? ― Do you feel pain?
- Das waren die schlimmsten Schmerzen, die ich je erlebt habe. ― That was the worst pain I have ever felt.
- (chiefly in the singular) physical pain (theoretically, as a bodily mechanism or function)
- Schmerz ist ein Alarmsignal des Körpers. ― Pain is an emergency signal of the body.
- Konditionierung durch Schmerz ― conditioning by pain
- (chiefly in the singular) emotional pain, sorrow, heartache
- Man lebt weiter, aber der Schmerz bleibt. ― One lives on, but the pain remains.
Usage notes
- (physical pain as a sensation): While the plural is the normal choice, the singular is not altogether impossible in this sense. In specific contexts, it may even be fairly common, e.g. referring to chronic pain or, conversely, a sudden shot of pain, etc.
Declension
Derived terms
Related terms
Further reading
- “Schmerz” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Schmerz” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “Schmerz” in Duden online