German word

schlüpfen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃlʏpfən/

Meaning

  • verbslip into

Example

Ich schlüpfe schnell in die Jacke.

I quickly slip into my jacket.

Illustration for schlüpfen (slip into)

More examples

Am Morgen schlüpfen die Küken aus dem Ei.

In the morning, the chicks hatch from the egg.

Core concept

A small creature glides through a narrow gap, whether entering clothing or emerging from its shell.

Common phrases

  • aus dem Ei schlüpfen

    hatch from the egg

  • in eine Rolle schlüpfen

    slip into a role

Similar words

anziehen: Put on clothing properly.
reinschlüpfen: Slip casually into clothing or a confined space.
hineinrutschen: Slide into a space or through an opening.

Definition in German

sich rasch und leicht durch eine enge Öffnung oder in ein Kleidungsstück bewegen; auch: aus einem Ei oder einer Hülle hervorkommen

Word origin

Schlüpfen comes from Middle High German slupfen, a Germanic verb for sliding movement, whose senses extended to entering clothing and emerging from an egg or shell.

Usage tips

  • For movement into clothing, German uses in + accusative, and the perfect commonly uses sein: 'in die Jacke schlüpfen' becomes 'ist in die Jacke geschlüpft'.

Other meanings

  • hatchverb
  • slip throughverb

Opposites

  • steckenbleibenget stuckverb

Related words

  • das Schlüpfenhatchingnoun
  • schlüpfrigslipperyadjective

Word lists with this word