Olfaktion

olfaction, sense of smell

noun ol-fahk-TSEE-on Rare

Origin: from Latin olfactio (smelling)

Usage Note

Olfaktion is the clinical term for the sense of smell, used alongside the more common Geruchssinn. It appears in neuroscience, COVID-19 research (anosmia) and sensory psychology articles; a B2 learner encounters it in quality health journalism.

Examples

"COVID-19 kann die Olfaktion vorübergehend oder dauerhaft beeinträchtigen."

Natural Translation

COVID-19 can impair olfaction temporarily or permanently.

Literal Translation

COVID-19 can the olfaction temporarily or permanently impair.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

Der, Die, Das: Rules to Guess German Gender

German noun gender rules made simple: check the suffix first, then meaning. Endings like -ung, -chen, and -ling predict der, die, or das with ~90% accuracy.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Weil vs Denn vs Da: "Because" in German

Weil and da send the verb to the end; denn keeps it in second position. Here's how to pick the right German "because" and place the verb correctly.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Numbers 1–100: Why 21 Is Said Backwards

German numbers 1 to 100 reverse the digits: 21 is einundzwanzig (one-and-twenty). Learn the und rule, the irregulars, and how to hear prices fast.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Umlauts & ß: Sounds and Typing

Pronounce ä, ö, ü with the front-tongue, rounded-lips rule, master the ß vs ss spelling, and type every German umlaut on Mac, Windows, and phone.

June 5, 2026 6 min read