Learn Hardcore German: Der Arzt hat heute Sprechstunde; im Wartezimmer bleiben wir ruhig. - The doctor has consultation hours today; in the waiting room we remain calm.

Because Sprechstunde haben is a set phrase for scheduled consultation hours and often appears without an article, similar to Unterricht haben (to have class), Dienst haben (to be on duty), or Urlaub haben (to be on vacation). It describes an institutionalized activity rather than one specific, countable instance.

Can I say eine Sprechstunde here? Does it change the meaning?

Yes. Der Arzt hat heute eine Sprechstunde sounds like one specific session (e.g., a particular block or appointment). The bare Sprechstunde is more like “the doctor is seeing patients today (in general).”

What exactly does Sprechstunde mean? Is it the same as Sprechzeiten or Termin?

Sprechstunde: a doctor’s (or professor’s) consultation hours; a session when they receive patients/students.
Sprechzeiten (plural): the posted time window(s) for consultations (e.g., 9–12 and 14–16).
Termin: an individual appointment time. So the sentence says the doctor is holding hours today, not that you have a specific Termin.

Why is the verb before the subject in im Wartezimmer bleiben wir ruhig?

German main clauses are verb-second. If you put a non-subject element first (here, the place phrase im Wartezimmer), the finite verb (bleiben) must come next, and the subject (wir) follows: [Prefield] im Wartezimmer | [Verb] bleiben | [Subject] wir | [Rest] ruhig.

Could I say Im Wartezimmer wir bleiben ruhig?

No. After fronting im Wartezimmer, the finite verb must be in second position. Correct options:

Im Wartezimmer bleiben wir ruhig.
Wir bleiben im Wartezimmer ruhig.

Is the semicolon correct here? Could I use a comma, period, or colon instead?

Semicolon: Correct; it links two closely related main clauses.
Period: Also fine; you’d get two sentences.
Comma: Not allowed without a conjunction in German.
With a conjunction: ..., und im Wartezimmer bleiben wir ruhig. (Comma before und is optional.)
Colon: Also possible for an explanation-style link; then capitalize the next word: Der Arzt hat heute Sprechstunde: Im Wartezimmer bleiben wir ruhig.

What does im stand for, and what case is Wartezimmer in? When would I use ins?

im = in dem (contraction).
Wartezimmer is dative here because in with location (no movement) takes dative: im Wartezimmer.
Use accusative with movement: ins = in das (e.g., Wir gehen ins Wartezimmer.).

Does ruhig mean “quiet” or “calm”? How is it different from leise?

ruhig can mean calm or quiet (not causing disturbance). leise specifically means low in volume/soft. In a waiting room:

ruhig bleiben = stay calm and not disruptive.
leise sprechen = speak quietly (softly). Both are common in signs; your sentence uses the broader calm/quiet idea.

Why use bleiben and not sein or werden?

bleiben = remain/keep (continue to be): Wir bleiben ruhig (we stay calm).
sein = simply be: Wir sind ruhig (we are calm).
werden = become: Wir werden ruhig (we’re becoming calm). Here the idea is to maintain a state, so bleiben fits best.

Is Bleiben wir ruhig an imperative like “let’s stay calm”? What about our sentence?

Yes, Bleiben wir ruhig! (verb-first) is a 1st person plural imperative (“Let’s stay calm!”). Your sentence is verb-second (Im Wartezimmer bleiben wir ruhig) and is a declarative statement. For suggestions, Lasst uns ruhig bleiben is also common.

Where can I put heute? Is Der Arzt hat Sprechstunde heute okay?

Preferred placements are early: Heute hat der Arzt Sprechstunde or Der Arzt hat heute Sprechstunde. Der Arzt hat Sprechstunde heute is possible but less natural; German tends to put time elements early (Time–Manner–Place guideline).

Is der Arzt generic for any doctor? How would I make it gender-inclusive?

Here der Arzt refers to a specific (known) doctor. Gender-inclusive options:

Die Ärztin/der Arzt hat heute Sprechstunde.
Die Ärztin hat heute Sprechstunde. (if you know it’s a woman)
Institution-focused: Die Praxis hat heute Sprechstunde.

Why are Sprechstunde and Wartezimmer capitalized, but heute and ruhig are not?

German capitalizes all nouns: die Sprechstunde, das Wartezimmer. Adverbs/adjectives like heute and ruhig are lowercased (unless they’re part of a proper name or start a sentence).

Is Sprechstunde countable? What’s the plural?

Yes. Singular: die Sprechstunde. Plural: die Sprechstunden. Example: Am Montag und Mittwoch gibt es Sprechstunden. Do not confuse with Sprechzeiten (posted hours, plural by default).

Is Wartezimmer the only word for “waiting room”?

You’ll also see:

der Warteraum (more general “waiting room”)
der Wartebereich (waiting area) Wartezimmer is typical in a doctor’s office.

What cases are used in the sentence?

Der Arzt: nominative (subject).
Sprechstunde: accusative (direct object of hat); the case isn’t visible because there’s no article, but you could see it in eine Sprechstunde.
im Wartezimmer: dative (location with in).

Why the present tense hat instead of a future form?

German often uses the simple present for scheduled or near-future events: Der Zug kommt morgen, Der Arzt hat heute Sprechstunde. wird … haben is possible but unnecessary and less idiomatic here.