01
angucken
to look at
Colloquial for looking at someone or something; directing your gaze toward someone or something.
example
Warum guckst du mich so komisch an?
Why are you looking at me so strangely?
angucken
to look at / to watch
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Register: colloquial
'Angucken' (to look at / to watch) is a colloquial word. It is used less often in formal or written contexts.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns mal die Urlaubsfotos angucken.
Let's have a look at the vacation photos.
Separable verb
As a separable verb, the prefix 'an-' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er guckt sich gerade eine neue Wohnung an.
He is currently looking at a new apartment.
Reflexive use
'Angucken' (to look at / to watch) is very often used reflexively with a dative pronoun: 'sich (dative) etwas (accusative) angucken' (to have a look at something). This emphasizes that you are looking at something for yourself or out of your own interest.
EXAMPLE
Ich gucke mir heute Abend eine Dokumentation an.
I'm watching a documentary tonight.
Compare with
angucken vs sehen
to see
'sehen' and 'angucken' can both mean that you direct your gaze toward something or look at something. 'sehen' is neutral and very general: it can also happen by chance, or refer to the ability to see with your eyes. 'angucken' is colloquial and tends to emphasize that you are looking deliberately. With films, pictures, or places, 'angucken' sounds very natural in conversation, but in more formal situations 'sehen' or 'ansehen' fits better. Learners may confuse the words because both are often translated similarly. As a simple guide: 'sehen' is broader and more neutral, while 'angucken' is more spoken and direct.
angucken
Hast du dir das Spiel gestern Abend noch angeguckt?
Did you end up watching the game last night?
sehen
Im Gespräch sieht die Klasse die neuen Fotos für das Projekt.
During the discussion, the class sees the new photos for the project.
In real life
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