die  Allergie

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/alɛʁˈɡiː/

🤧 What does 'die Allergie' mean?

The German word die Allergie (feminine, plural: die Allergien) refers to an allergy, which is a hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system to normally harmless substances from the environment (called Allergene in German). The body reacts defensively, leading to various symptoms such as sneezing (Niesen), itching (Juckreiz), skin rash (Hautausschlag), or breathing difficulties (Atembeschwerden).

It is a medical term but is also very common in everyday language.

• Article: die
• Gender: Feminine
• Main meaning: Hypersensitivity reaction of the body (allergy)

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Allergie

The noun „Allergie“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Seine Allergie gegen Pollen wird im Frühling schlimmer.
   (His allergy to pollen gets worse in spring.)
2. Der Arzt diagnostizierte eine schwere Allergie auf Nüsse.
   (The doctor diagnosed a severe allergy to nuts.)
3. Viele Menschen leiden heutzutage unter verschiedenen Allergien.
   (Many people suffer from various allergies nowadays.)
4. Kennst du Mittel gegen deine Allergie?
   (Do you know any remedies for your allergy?)

🗣️ How to use 'Allergie'?

The term „Allergie“ is mainly used in a medical context or in everyday life when discussing health issues.

• Typical Collocations:
  • eine Allergie haben/leiden an einer Allergie: to have an allergy/suffer from an allergy. Example: Ich habe eine Allergie gegen Katzenhaare. (I have an allergy to cat hair.)
  • allergisch sein gegen etwas: to be allergic to something. Example: Sie ist allergisch gegen Erdbeeren. (She is allergic to strawberries.)
  • eine Allergie auslösen: to trigger an allergy. Example: Bestimmte Lebensmittel können Allergien auslösen. (Certain foods can trigger allergies.)
  • Heuschnupfen (hay fever) is a common form of Allergie.
• Context: Conversations about health, doctor's visits, nutrition, environmental factors (pollen count, etc.).
• Distinction: Sometimes „Allergie“ is used colloquially for a strong dislike („Ich habe eine Allergie gegen frühes Aufstehen!“ - "I have an allergy to getting up early!"), but this is metaphorical and not the actual meaning. An Unverträglichkeit (intolerance, e.g., lactose intolerance) is not an allergy in the immunological sense, although the terms are sometimes confused.

💡 Mnemonics for Allergie

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ie in German are almost always feminine, including die Allergie. Think of other 'die' words like die Therapie (therapy), die Magie (magic), die Energie (energy).

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine your body reacting badly to 'All-ergie' - like it's allergic to 'all the things', overreacting strangely. That's an allergy.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Note: Not every Unverträglichkeit (intolerance) is an Allergie. An allergy always involves the immune system.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Computer eine Pollenallergie?

(Why does the computer have a pollen allergy?)

Weil er zu viele Fenster offen hatte!

(Because it had too many windows open!) 🤧💻

📜 Poem about Allergie

Die Nase juckt, die Augen rot,
(The nose itches, the eyes are red,)
Der Frühling kommt, bringt Pollennot.
(Spring arrives, brings pollen dread.)
Ein Niesen hier, ein Husten dort,
(A sneeze right here, a cough right there,)
Die Allergie, sie ist kein Sport.
(The allergy, it isn't fair [lit: it's not a sport].)
Man meidet Blumen, Gras und Tier,
(One avoids flowers, grass, and pets,)
Und hofft auf Linderung bald hier.
(And hopes for relief soon, one bets.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin eine Reaktion, oft nicht gewollt,
(I am a reaction, often unwanted,)
Auf Staub, auf Pollen oder was man isst und rollt.
(To dust, to pollen, or what's eaten or flaunted.)
Ich bringe Juckreiz, Niesen, manchmal Not,
(I bring itching, sneezing, sometimes distress,)
Mein Name endet auf „-ie“, wie lautet das Gebot?
(My name ends in "-ie", what is it, can you guess?)

(Solution: die Allergie)

✨ Other Information

Word Origin: The term „Allergie“ comes from Greek. It is composed of állos (ἄλλος), meaning "other," "different," or "strange," and érgon (ἔργον), meaning "work" or "reaction." So, literally, an "altered reaction."

Related Terms:

• Allergen: The substance that triggers the allergy. (das Allergen)
• Allergologe/Allergologin: Allergist; a doctor specializing in allergies.
• Allergietest: Allergy test; medical procedure to diagnose allergies.
• Antiallergikum: Antiallergic drug; medication against allergy symptoms. (das Antiallergikum)