Brustbein

sternum; breastbone

noun BRUST-byn Rare

Usage Note

Brustbein is the flat bone in the centre of the chest connecting the ribs. Relevant in CPR instruction (Herzdruckmassage auf dem Brustbein) and in medical articles about heart surgery. Plural: Brustbeine.

Examples

"Bei der Herzdruckmassage drückt man auf das Brustbein."

Natural Translation

During CPR you press on the sternum.

Literal Translation

During heart-compression-massage one presses on the breastbone.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

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

How to Memorize German Vocabulary Fast

Memorize German vocabulary fast with a five-step workflow: drill the top 100 words, learn nouns with their article, color-code gender, and use spaced repetition

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

How to Tell Time in German Without Mistakes

Halb sieben means 6:30, not 7:30. Master telling time in German — Viertel nach, halb, vor, the 24-hour clock, and the prepositions that trip up beginners.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Days, Months & Seasons (am, im & -tag)

Days of the week in German use am, months and seasons use im — plus the -tag pattern, capitalized nouns, and how to build a real sentence with a day.

June 5, 2026 4 min read