German word

rütteln

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁʏtl̩n/

Meaning

  • verbshake

Example

Sie rüttelt die Flasche, bevor sie daraus trinkt.

She shakes the bottle before drinking from it.

Illustration for rütteln (shake)

More examples

Die Enthüllung rüttelte die Grundfesten der Organisation.

The revelation shook the foundations of the organization.

Core concept

A hand gives a bottle repeated short jolts, making its contents move back and forth before drinking.

Common phrases

  • an etwas rütteln

    shake ___

  • an den Grundfesten rütteln

    shake the foundations

  • am Geländer rütteln

    shake the railing

Similar words

schütteln: Forceful shaking of a container to mix its contents.
wackeln: Small, unsteady movements caused by weak support.
rühren: Moving liquid or ingredients around with a spoon or similar tool.
schaukeln: Smooth, regular movement back and forth or from side to side.

Definition in German

durch kurze, stoßartige Bewegungen etwas hin und her bewegen oder erschüttern

Word origin

Rütteln is an inherited German verb recorded in Middle High German as rüteln, with the ending -eln associated with repeated action.

Usage tips

  • In the pattern "an etwas rütteln," the preposition an takes the dative, as in "an den Grundfesten rütteln."

Other meanings

  • rockverb
  • jostleverb
  • rattleverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Rüttelnshakingnoun
  • die Rüttelprobeshake testnoun
  • rüttelndshakingadjective

Word lists with this word