der Muskelkater
Translation
sore muscles, muscle ache, delayed onset muscle soreness, DOMS
Examples
Nach dem Training hatte ich starken Muskelkater.
I had bad muscle ache after the workout.
Was hilft gegen Muskelkater?
What helps against sore muscles?
Grammar Patterns
to have sore muscles Muskelkater haben I have sore muscles.
to do sth. against sore muscles etwas gegen Muskelkater tun What can you do against sore muscles?
Similar Words
Muskelkrampf (muscle cramp), Zerrung (strain)
Etymology
From 'Muskel' (muscle) + 'Kater' (tomcat). The 'Kater' part is likely a folk etymology alteration of 'Katarrh' (catarrh, inflammation).
Memory Tips
A funny image to remember it: a tomcat ('Kater') is kneading your sore muscles ('Muskel').