German word

lachen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlaxn̩/

Meaning

  • verblaugh

Example

Er lacht über den Witz.

He laughs at the joke.

Illustration for lachen (laugh)

More examples

Die Kinder lachen laut im Park.

The children laugh loudly in the park.

Core concept

An open mouth, moving cheeks, and voiced bursts signal amusement or mockery.

Common phrases

  • mit jemandem lachen

    laugh with someone

  • über etwas lachen

    laugh at something

  • laut lachen

    laugh loudly

Similar words

lächeln: Form a soft, quiet smile mainly with the lips.
schmunzeln: Show restrained amusement with a subtly widened smile.
kichern: Release quiet, high-pitched laughs, often while trying not to be heard.
auslachen: Mock someone by laughing at them repeatedly.

Definition in German

lachen beschreibt eine spontane Reaktion mit stimmlichen Lauten und veränderten Gesichtszügen, die Vergnügen oder Spott ausdrückt.

Word origin

Lachen is an inherited Germanic verb related to English laugh and Dutch lachen, with forms recorded in Old and Middle High German.

Usage tips

  • Lachen über takes an accusative object for the thing causing laughter, as in über den Witz.

Opposites

Related words

  • Lachenlaughternoun
  • Gelächterlaughternoun
  • auslachenlaugh atverb

Word lists with this word