Cassandra
What is the proper German term for madhouse or asylum? I looked it up on google translate, I got irrenhaus and I noticed that irre means mad. I wanted to get the German translation for madhouse for a project I'm working on (I want it to mean the right thing if a German speaker were to see it), also curious on what the politically correct German term would be for a hospital that focuses on mental health bc I realize madhouse is a bit rude.
Sep 18, 2014 8:53 PM
Answers · 7
2
"Irrenhaus" is in colloquial use, and would be used by a German speaker in informal situations. If you want to translate "Madhouse", doesn't that have a similar connotation? Anyway, neutral terms are "Nervenheilanstalt" or "Psychiatrische Klinik"/"Psychiatrisches Krankhaus" (mental/psychiatric hospital).
September 18, 2014
Very informal: Irrenhaus, Irrenanstalt, Klapsmühle.
September 19, 2014
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