German word

stylen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈstaɪ̯lən/

Meaning

  • verbspruce oneself up

Example

Er stylt sich vor dem Ausgehen.

He spruces himself up before going out.

Illustration for stylen (spruce oneself up)

More examples

Der Friseur stylt die Kundin vor dem Fotoshooting.

The hairdresser is styling the client before the photo shoot.

Core concept

A chosen outfit and hairstyle work together to give someone a more fashionable appearance.

Common phrases

  • sich stylen

    spruce oneself up

  • Haare stylen

    style one's hair

  • Outfit stylen

    style one's outfit

Similar words

sich zurechtmachen: Neaten and groom one's appearance before going out.
anziehen: Put on clothes to change or improve one's appearance.
kombinieren: Combine clothing and accessories to create a coordinated outfit.
schminken: Apply makeup to improve facial appearance.

Definition in German

sich oder andere durch gezielte Gestaltung von Kleidung und Frisur stilvoller erscheinen lassen

Word origin

Stylen entered German as an English loan based on style and developed as a German verb with the ending -en.

Usage tips

  • In everyday German, stylen covers both arranging one's appearance and styling a specific feature, so sich and an object have different grammatical roles.

Other meanings

  • styleverb
  • style one's clothesverb

Opposites

  • verschandelndisfigureverb
  • entstellendisfigureverb

Related words

  • das Stylingstylingnoun
  • die Stylistinfemale stylistnoun

Word lists with this word