German word

gucken

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈgʊkən/

Meaning

  • verbwatch

Example

Ich gucke jeden Abend Fernsehen.

I watch TV every evening.

Illustration for gucken (watch)

More examples

Er guckt aus dem Fenster.

He is looking out the window.

Core concept

A person directs the eyes toward something visible and keeps watching it or checks it briefly.

Common phrases

  • aus dem Fenster gucken

    look out the window

  • auf die Uhr gucken

    look at the clock

  • den Verkehr gucken

    watch the traffic

Similar words

sehen: To perceive and understand what is around or happening.
schauen: To watch something while giving attention to its movements or condition.
ansehen: To direct attention toward something and examine it closely.
beobachten: To keep watching actions or changes carefully over time.

Definition in German

Umgangssprachlich etwas, besonders Fernsehen oder Bilder, mit den Augen verfolgen oder anschauen

Word origin

Gucken is a Low German-origin verb whose basic sense is 'look'; German also uses it for watching visual media.

Usage tips

  • The phrase mal gucken means 'let's see' or 'we'll see', not simply 'look briefly', and is common in casual speech.

Other meanings

  • look atverb
  • peekverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Guckerwatchernoun
  • guckendwatchingadjective

Word lists with this word