zwinkern
/ˈtsvɪŋkərn/
The English verb "wink" is translated into German as zwinkern. Wiktionary also lists zuzwinkern.
Meaning: to blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| zwinkern | /ˈtsvɪŋkərn/ |
| zuzwinkern | /ˈt͡suːˌt͡svɪŋkɐn/ |
zwinkern is used to describe the act of blinking with only one eye to convey a message, a signal or a suggestion. The related noun for a wink is Augenzwinkern.
Which one should you use?
While zwinkern implies a deliberate wink used as a signal, the word blinzeln refers to involuntary blinking or squinting, which is often caused by bright light.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtsvɪŋkərn/
Did you know?
- The German word zwinkern is a cognate of the Middle English word 'twinken', which is the ancestor of the modern English word 'twinkle'.
- In formal German society, winking at a stranger can be seen as rude or overly flirtatious, whereas in some English-speaking cultures it is viewed as a friendly gesture.
- The suffix -ern in zwinkern is an iterative suffix, meaning the word itself implies a repeated or flickering action rather than a single movement.
Examples in context
- Er hat ihr zugezwinkert, um ihr zu zeigen, dass er das Geheimnis kennt.He winked at her to show that he knows the secret.
- Er wollte ihr nur kurz zwinkern.He just wanted to wink at her briefly.
- Kannst du mir kurz zwinkern?Can you wink at me quickly?
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are at a party and sharing a secret joke.
- LauraHast du das gerade wirklich gesehen?Did you really see that just now?
- JulianJa, und er wollte uns zwinkern.Yes, and he wanted to wink at us.
- LauraDas war ein lustiges Signal.That was a funny signal.
- JulianIch glaube, er weiß unser Geheimnis.I think he knows our secret.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wink” translations and entries zwinkern, zuzwinkern, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zuzwinkern, zwinkern, CC BY-SA 4.0.
