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How to Say ‘How long have you had the pain?’ in German

Seit wann haben Sie die Schmerzen?

zyte vahn hah-ben zee dee SHMAIR-tsen

[zyte vahn hah-ben zee dee SHMAIR-tsen]

💬 Usage Tip: German uses the present tense with seit for something that started in the past and is still going on. English says "have had", but German says haben "have".

Phrase Breakdown

Seit wann

zyte vahn

Since when

Asks how long something has been going on. Say 'zite vahn'. The 's' sounds like 'z'.

Example

Seit wann wohnen Sie hier?

How long have you lived here?

Words in this phrase

Seit

[zyte]

since / for

Used with time expressions to show duration from the past until now.

Example

Seit zwei Jahren arbeite ich in Berlin.

I have been working in Berlin for two years.

wann

[vahn]

when

Question word asking about time.

Example

Wann haben Sie Zeit?

When do you have time?

haben Sie

hah-ben zee

have you

The formal 'you have', inverted for a question. Say 'HAH-ben zee'.

Example

Haben Sie Zeit?

Do you have time?

Words in this phrase

haben

[hah-ben]

have

To possess or hold something.

Example

Ich habe ein Buch.

I have a book.

Sie

[zee]

you

The formal 'you' used in polite professional conversations.

Example

Ich freue mich, Sie hier auf der Jobmesse zu sehen.

I am pleased to see you here at the job fair.

die Schmerzen?

dee SHMAIR-tsen

the pains

'Schmerzen' is the plural of 'Schmerz' (pain). Say 'SHMAIR-tsen'. The 'z' sounds like 'ts'.

Example

Die Schmerzen sind stark.

The pains are strong.

Words in this phrase

die

[dee]

the

Definite article used to specify something already known.

Example

Die Katze ist süß.

The cat is cute.

Schmerzen

[SHMAIR-tsen]

pain

Plural noun for physical pain; often used in plural in German.

Example

Ich habe starke Schmerzen.

I have severe pain.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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