German word

schlucken

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃlʊkən/

Meaning

  • verbswallow

Example

Ich schlucke das Wasser.

I am swallowing the water.

Illustration for schlucken (swallow)

More examples

Sie musste ihren Ärger schlucken.

She had to swallow her anger.

Core concept

A mouthful moves inward and vanishes, extending metaphorically to accepting something difficult or putting up with it.

Common phrases

  • seinen Ärger schlucken

    swallow one's anger

  • seinen Stolz schlucken

    swallow one's pride

  • eine Tablette schlucken

    swallow a tablet

Similar words

trinken: To consume a beverage by taking it into the mouth over time.
verschlucken: To swallow the wrong way, causing coughing or choking.

Definition in German

Etwas durch den Hals in den Magen hinunterbefördern, besonders Flüssigkeit oder kleine Bissen.

Word origin

Schlucken developed within Germanic and is historically connected with Schluck, the noun for a gulp, rather than being borrowed from English.

Usage tips

  • In the phrase etwas schlucken muessen, the verb often refers to enduring or accepting something unpleasant rather than to physical swallowing.

Other meanings

  • acceptverb

Opposites

Related words

  • verschluckenswallow by accidentverb
  • der Schlucksipnoun

Word lists with this word