Urology

Much of this list is Greek and Latin that an English-speaking reader half recognises, and the plain German beside it is where the surprises are. Take die Harnverhaltung, urinary retention. Its verb is one every learner meets early as sich verhalten, to behave, with das Verhalten for behaviour. Without the reflexive pronoun the same verb once meant to hold something back, and that older sense is still alive in careful German: den Atem verhalten is to hold one’s breath, verhaltener Beifall is restrained applause, and die Harnverhaltung is urine held back in a bladder that cannot empty. Read it as behaviour and the sentence falls apart. The rest of the list keeps the same double register: the Greek term for the written report, the plain compound for the conversation in the consulting room. These pages explain words and give no medical advice.