das  Koma

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkoːma/

🩺 What does "das Koma" mean?

Das Koma refers to a state of profound unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused even by strong external stimuli. It is a serious medical condition that can be caused by various factors such as head injuries, strokes, poisoning, or severe illnesses.

There is only this one main meaning for the word "Koma" in German, and it is exclusively used with the article das (neuter).

⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse it with the word "Komma" (the punctuation mark, comma), although they sound similar!

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "das Koma" in Detail

The noun "Koma" is neuter. The plural ("die Komas") is grammatically possible but rarely used in medical jargon. Usually, the state of coma is referred to in the singular.

Example Sentences

1. Nach dem schweren Unfall lag der Patient im Koma.
   (After the severe accident, the patient was in a coma.)
2. Die Ärzte versuchten, ihn aus dem Koma zu holen.
   (The doctors tried to bring him out of the coma.)
3. Der Zustand des tiefen Komas hielt mehrere Wochen an.
   (The state of deep coma lasted for several weeks.)

🗣️ How is "Koma" used?

"Das Koma" is used almost exclusively in a medical context to describe the state of profound unconsciousness.

• Typical Phrases: "im Koma liegen" (to be in a coma), "ins Koma fallen" (to fall into a coma), "aus dem Koma erwachen" (to wake up from a coma), "jemanden ins künstliche Koma versetzen" (to put someone into an induced coma).
• Context: Used in hospitals, medical reports, news about accidents or severe illnesses, and in medical literature.
• Distinction: It describes a specific, severe loss of consciousness, deeper than fainting (Ohnmacht/Synkope) or deep sleep (Tiefschlaf).

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of "das Kind" (the child) needing care, perhaps in a medical situation like a coma. Both "Kind" and "Koma" use the neuter article "das". Or associate it with das Bed (das Bett) where someone in a coma might lie.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Koma" sounds a bit like "calmer" – suggesting a state of extreme, unnatural calmness or unresponsiveness. Or think: "Come awake!" - what you might wish for someone in a coma.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, but different words:

• Das Komma: The punctuation mark (,). Sounds very similar but has a completely different meaning and origin.

😂 A Little Joke (use with care)

DE: Warum hat der Computer aufgehört zu arbeiten? Er ist ins Koma gefallen – zu viele offene Tabs!

EN: Why did the computer stop working? It fell into a coma – too many open tabs!

(Note: This joke is meant harmlessly, playing on applying the term to technology. Real comas are serious medical conditions.)

📜 Poem about Coma

DE:
Stille hüllt den Geist nun ein,
Ein tiefer Schlaf, kein Schein.
Das Koma hält die Welt ganz fern,
Wann kehrt zurück des Lebens Stern?

EN:
Silence now enfolds the mind,
A deep sleep, no pretense to find.
The coma holds the world afar,
When will life's returning star?

🧩 Little Riddle

DE:
Ich bin ein Zustand, tief und schwer,
kein Weckruf dringt zu mir hierher.
Ärzte kennen mich genau,
nicht Schlaf, nicht Traum, nur stiller Bau.

Was bin ich?

EN:
I am a state, profound and grave,
No wake-up call can make me wave.
Doctors know me through and through,
Not sleep, not dream, just silent view.

What am I? Solution: Das Koma (The coma)

💡 Other Information

Etymology (Word Origin): The word "Koma" comes from the Ancient Greek word κῶμα (kōma), meaning "deep sleep". It was adopted into medical terminology to describe this specific state of unconsciousness.

Induced Coma (Künstliches Koma): Sometimes doctors intentionally place patients into an "induced coma" (künstliches Koma), which is a medically induced deep sedation. This is done to protect the brain or support healing processes in severe illnesses or after major surgeries.