German word

lauschen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlaʊ̯ʃn̩/

Meaning

  • verblisten closely

Example

Wir lauschen dem Konzert.

We are listening closely to the concert.

Illustration for lauschen (listen closely)

More examples

Ich lausche dem Gespräch, um Details zu verstehen.

I listen closely to the conversation to understand the details.

Core concept

An ear turns toward a faint voice or distant sound while the listener stays still and gives it full attention.

Common phrases

  • dem Gespräch lauschen

    listen closely to the conversation

  • den Stimmen lauschen

    listen closely to the voices

Similar words

zuhören: Concentrating on another person's spoken words.
hören: Perceiving an incoming sound without deliberate focus.

Definition in German

Mit Aufmerksamkeit und meist in Stille hören; gerichtetes Hören auf Stimmen oder Geräusche, oft mit dem Beiklang von heimlichem Zuhören.

Word origin

Lauschen derives from Middle High German lûsen or lûschen, whose older forms already meant to listen attentively.

Usage tips

  • Lauschen normally takes the dative, so 'jemandem' or 'einem Konzert lauschen' is grammatical rather than an accusative object.

Other meanings

  • eavesdropverb

Opposites

  • überhörenfail to hearverb

Related words

  • Lauschangriffwiretapping operationnoun
  • Lauschereavesdroppernoun

Word lists with this word