Heilen

Heilen is a German verb meaning to cure or restore someone’s health. It can refer to medical treatment that eliminates illness, the healing of a wound, or the broader restoration of well-being. Figuratively, it can also denote repairing non-physical harms, such as relationships or reputations.

Etymology and related forms: Heilen derives from older Germanic roots related to being whole or sound. The related noun Heilkunde or Heilung, used for the process or result of healing, is common in medical and everyday language. A person who practices healing is a healer, and in modern contexts terms like Heilpraktiker denote alternative or complementary practitioners.

Grammar and usage: Heilen is a transitive verb. Common constructions include jemanden/etwas heilen (to heal someone or something) or eine Wunde heilen, eine Krankheit heilen. The past participle is geheilt: Der Patient ist geheilt. Conjugation in present tense: ich heile, du heilst, er heilt, wir heilen, ihr heilt, sie heilen. The verb is often used with clinical, surgical, or therapeutic contexts, but also in non-medical uses such as “eine Beziehung heilen” or “eine Tradition heilen” in a broader sense of repair or restoration.

Examples: Die Wunde ist schnell geheilt. Der Arzt hat den Patienten geheilt. Die Heilung der Krankheit erfordert Geduld und Zeit.

See also: Heilung, Heiler, Heilpraktiker.