to stroll / dawdle
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to stroll
To walk slowly and without a fixed destination in order to pass the time or look at the surroundings.
Am Sonntagnachmittag bummeln wir gerne durch die Innenstadt und schauen in die Schaufenster.
On Sunday afternoons, we like to stroll through the city center and look in the shop windows.
The meaning of 'bummeln' depends heavily on the context. In connection with leisure time and places (city, park), it means 'spazieren' (to go for a walk) and is positive or neutral. In connection with work or tasks, it means 'trödeln' (to dawdle) and is negative.
Lass uns am Abend ein bisschen durch die Altstadt bummeln.
Let's stroll a bit through the old town in the evening.
The word 'bummeln' belongs to everyday language and has an informal character. It is used rather rarely in formal or official texts.
Komm, wir gehen eine Runde bummeln und essen ein Eis.
Come on, let's go for a little stroll and have an ice cream.
In the meaning 'spazieren' (to go for a walk), 'bummeln' is often used with prepositions that describe movement through a space, e.g. 'durch die Stadt bummeln' (to stroll through the city), 'über den Markt bummeln' (to stroll around the market), or 'am Strand entlang bummeln' (to stroll along the beach).
Wir sind stundenlang über den großen Flohmarkt gebummelt.
We strolled around the large flea market for hours.
When 'bummeln' means 'trödeln' (to dawdle), it is often combined with the prepositions 'mit' (with) or 'bei' (at/during) to name the task during which someone is dawdling. For example, 'mit den Hausaufgaben bummeln' (to dawdle with homework) or 'bei der Arbeit bummeln' (to dawdle at work).
Hör auf zu bummeln und deck bitte endlich den Tisch!
Stop dawdling and please finally set the table!
to stroll
'spazieren' and 'bummeln' can both mean that you walk slowly and without a fixed destination. 'spazieren gehen' (to go for a walk) sounds neutral and fits well with relaxation, nature, or exercise. 'bummeln' emphasizes more strongly that you take your time, look at things, or simply wander around, often in the city or while shopping. Learners may confuse the words because both involve moving slowly. But 'bummeln' can also have a negative meaning: that someone is dawdling at work or at school. 'spazieren gehen' does not have this negative meaning.
Am Samstag bummeln wir durch die Innenstadt und schauen in ein paar Geschäfte.
On Saturday, we stroll through the city center and look in a few shops.
Wenn das Wetter gut ist, gehen sie nach der Prüfung im Park spazieren.
If the weather is good, they go for a walk in the park after the exam.