die  Akne

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaknə/

🩺 What exactly is "die Akne"?

Die Akne is the German word for acne, a common skin condition primarily characterized by inflammation of the sebaceous glands. It typically manifests as pimples (Pickel), pustules (Pusteln), blackheads/whiteheads (Mitesser/Komedonen), and sometimes nodules or cysts, predominantly on the face, chest, and back.

It's a medical term but is also used in general conversation. The article is always feminine: die Akne.

⚠️ There's no risk of confusion with other articles, as the word only exists with "die".

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar Under the Microscope: Die Akne

The noun "Akne" is feminine. It is mostly used in the singular because it describes a condition. The plural "die Aknen" is very rare and hardly ever used.

Declension (Beugung)

Here's how die Akne declines in the singular. The plural is shown for completeness but is uncommon.

Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)

1. Viele Jugendliche leiden während der Pubertät unter Akne.
   (Many teenagers suffer from acne during puberty.)
2. Die Behandlung der Akne kann langwierig sein.
   (The treatment of acne can be lengthy.)
3. Der Hautarzt verschrieb ihr eine spezielle Creme gegen die Akne.
   (The dermatologist prescribed her a special cream for the acne.)
4. Mit richtiger Pflege kann man der Akne entgegenwirken.
   (With proper care, one can counteract acne.)

🗣️ How to Use "Akne"?

"Die Akne" is mainly used in medical and cosmetic contexts, but also in everyday life when talking about skin problems.

• Medical Context: Doctors, dermatologists (Hautärzte), and pharmacists (Apotheker) use the term for diagnosis and description of the skin condition (e.g., Acne vulgaris, zystische Akne).
• Everyday Language: Teenagers and adults talk about their own or others' experiences with Akne. It's often used synonymously with "Pickel" (pimples), although Akne refers to the underlying condition.
• Cosmetics & Skincare: In advertising and advice for skincare products, "Akne" is a common keyword.

Compared to "der Pickel" (the pimple), "die Akne" is the broader, medical term for the disease, while "Pickel" usually refers to the individual visible blemish.

💡 Mnemonics for "die Akne"

Article Mnemonic: Think of "die Hautkrankheit" (the skin disease). Many diseases ending in '-e' in German are feminine (die Grippe - the flu, die Migräne - the migraine) – and so is die Akne.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone seeing a pimple and groaning, "Ach, nee!" (Oh, no!). "Ach nee" sounds a bit like Akne and reminds you of the frustration with skin blemishes.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Not every skin blemish is Akne. Akne is a specific medical condition.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum gehen Pickel nie zur Schule?
Weil sie immer ausbrechen!

English Translation: Why do pimples never go to school?
Because they are always breaking out! (Note: "ausbrechen" means both "to break out" as in escape, and "to break out" as in skin eruption.)

✍️ Poem about Akne

German:
Die Haut, sie blüht, doch nicht vor Freud,
die Akne zeigt sich weit und breit.
Mal hier ein Punkt, mal dort ein Schmerz,
ein Thema oft für junges Herz.
Doch Pflege, Zeit und guter Rat,
verbessern bald die Tat.

English Translation:
The skin, it blooms, but not with joy,
the acne shows itself far and wide.
A spot here, a pain there,
a topic often for a young heart.
But care, time, and good advice,
soon improve the deed (situation).

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich bin eine Plage, oft im Gesicht,
vor allem für Jugendliche kein schönes Licht.
Mal rot, mal weiß, entzündet und klein,
der Hautarzt hilft, die Haut wird wieder rein.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I am a nuisance, often on the face,
especially for teenagers, not a pretty sight.
Sometimes red, sometimes white, inflamed and small,
the dermatologist helps, the skin becomes clear again.

What am I?

🧐 Other Interesting Facts

• Etymology: The word "Akne" comes from the Greek word akmḗ (ἀκμή), which originally meant "point," "peak," or "prime/bloom." The connection to the skin condition likely arose from a scribal error in medical texts (acme -> acne).
• Forms: There are various forms of acne, such as Acne vulgaris (the most common form), Acne inversa, or Acne tarda (late-onset acne in adults).