Got a headache, sore muscles, or an annoying back ache? Let’s make talking about pain in Luxembourgish easy and natural.
Being able to describe how you feel is important — in everyday chats, when caring for someone, or explaining symptoms to a doctor. In this episode, we’ll cover simple ways to talk about aches and pains, then go through the different types of pain you might experience — all in phrases that help you sound confident and natural when speaking.
General Ways to Describe Pain
In this section, we’ll explore common ways to describe when you don’t feel well and have pains and aches
- Péng hunn / wéi hunn
To have pain, to have aches or depending on the context: to hurt . A dull pain that can be persistent, like a headache Kappwéi or a sore muscle Muskelkater.
Beispiller – Examples
Ech hunn iwwerall Péng / wéi nom intensiven Training vu gëschter. – I have pain all over after yesterday’s intensive workout.
Ech hat haut de ganzen Dag Kappwéi. – I had a headache all day today.
Have you noticed: in Luxembourgish we don’t say a headache we just say: ech hu Kappwéi
Wann ech laang virum Computer sëtzen, kréien ech d’Ae wéi. – When I sit in front of the computer for a long time, my eyes start to hurt.
- Sech net gutt fillen
To feel unwell or slightly sick, this includes a mildly sore throat, a slight headache, a runny nose,
In English you would say: I’m feeling under the weather today, I’d rather stay home.
Beispiller – Examples
Ech fille mech haut net gutt, ech bleiwe léiwer doheem. – I’m feeling under the weather today, I’d rather stay home.
Ech hat gëschter den Hals wéi an dofir fillen ech mech haut net esou gutt. – I had a sore throat yesterday, and that’s why I don’t feel so well today.
You can also replace “sech net gutt fillen” with ‘t ass mer schlecht:
Ech fille mech haut net gutt, …… →‘T ass mer haut schlecht …….
‘t ass mer schlecht is how native speakers commonly say this. It’s the short form of: et ass mir schlecht.
- Sech aarmséileg fillen
To feel miserable, wretched. It’s stronger than just “not feeling well”; it conveys a deeper sense of physical or emotional discomfort. Can be used for feeling sick, exhausted, or really low in mood.
Beispiller – Examples
No deem laangen Dag hunn ech mech richteg aarmséileg gefillt. – After that long day, I felt really miserable.
No menger Gripp hunn ech mech nach zimmlech aarmséileg gefillt. – After my flu, I still felt quite miserable.
Common kind of pains and aches
- Kappwéi hunn – to have a headache
Ech hu säit de Moie schrecklech Kappwéi. – I’ve had a terrible headache since this morning.
- Halswéi hunn – to have a sore throat
Ech hunn Halswéi, dofir schwätzen ech haut net vill. – I have a sore throat, so I’m not speaking much today.
- Zännwéi hunn – to have a toothache
Ech hu säit gëschter Zännwéi, dat ass net auszehalen. – I’ve had a toothache since yesterday; it’s unbearable.
- Réckwéi hunn – to have back pain / a backache
Nom Plënneren, hat ech mega Réckwéi. – After the move, I had severe back pain.
- Muskelkater hunn – to have sore muscles
Nom Training hat ech zwee Deeg laang Muskelkater. – After the workout, I had sore muscles for two days
- En Torticolli hunn – to have a stiff neck
Ech kann de Kapp net richteg dréinen, well ech en Torticolli hunn. – I can’t turn my head properly because I have a stiff neck.
- Bauchwéi hunn – to have a stomach ache
- Mo wéi hunn – to have a stomach ache
What’s the difference between :
- Mo wéi hunn (de Mo wéi kréien) → it usually refers to a general stomach discomfort, nausea, or feeling queasy. It can be caused by things like stress, coffee, or motion sickness:
- Ech kréien de Mo wéi, wann ech ze vill Kaffi drénken. – I get a stomach ache/feel queasy if I drink too much coffee.
- Bauchwéi → literally “stomach pain / ache”. This refers to actual pain in the stomach or abdominal area, often more intense. It can be caused by illness, indigestion, or cramps.
Ech hunn oft Bauchwéi nodeems ech ze vill giess hunn. – I often have a stomach ache after eating too much.
Quiz*:
Complete the following sentence:
Szenario: Nom Vëlostour an den Ardennen war ech doudmidd. Deen aneren Dag hat ech schrecklech_____________________, a konnt kaum goen ouni ze jéimeren.
A) Muskelkater
B) Torticolli
C) Kappwéi
Before I put you to the test:
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*Léisung / Solution: A)
