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How to Say ‘Have you been to the doctor?’ in German

Waren Sie beim Arzt?

VAH-ren ZEE bime artst

[VAH-ren ZEE bime artst]

💬 Usage Tip: German often uses the simple past waren where English says "have you been". Swap in the place: Waren Sie beim Zahnarzt? "Have you been to the dentist?"

Phrase Breakdown

Waren Sie

VAH-ren ZEE

Were you

'Sie' is the formal 'you'. 'Waren' has a long a: 'VAH-ren'.

Example

Waren Sie schon in Berlin?

Have you been to Berlin?

Words in this phrase

Waren

[VAH-ren]

were

Past tense of 'sein' (to be), used for 'Sie', 'wir', 'sie'.

Example

Wir waren gestern im Park.

We were in the park yesterday.

Sie

[ZEE]

You (formal)

Formal way to address someone.

Example

Sind Sie bereit zu bestellen?

Are you ready to order?

beim Arzt?

bime artst

at the doctor's?

'beim' = 'bei dem' (at the). 'Arzt' ends in a 'tst' sound.

Example

Ich war beim Arzt.

I was at the doctor's.

Words in this phrase

beim

[bime]

at the

Indicates position or location; contracted form of 'bei dem'.

Example

Er ist beim Arzt.

He is at the doctor's.

Arzt

[artst]

doctor

A male doctor; often used generally for doctor in simple learning contexts.

Example

Der Arzt arbeitet heute in der Praxis.

The doctor is working in the practice today.

Guides for German learners

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