checken
to check
Colloquial for to check, inspect, or verify.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du kurz die E-Mails checken?
Can you quickly check the emails?
checken
to check / get
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Meanings
checken
to get
Colloquial for to understand or grasp.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Erklärung zweimal gehört, aber ich checke es einfach nicht.
I heard the explanation twice, but I just don't get it.
checken
to check in
Colloquial for completing the check-in process at an airport or hotel, especially checking in luggage.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen unser Gepäck noch checken, bevor wir zum Gate gehen.
We still have to check in our luggage before we go to the gate.
Usage tips
Register and style
'Checken' (to check/get) is a word from English and is used almost exclusively in colloquial language. In formal or written contexts, German verbs like 'prüfen' (to check), 'kontrollieren' (to inspect/control), or 'verstehen' (to understand) are more common.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns mal die Abfahrtszeiten für den Zug checken.
Let's check the departure times for the train.
Context clues
The meaning of 'checken' (to check/get) depends on the object. If it has a concrete object (e.g. emails, a list), it means 'prüfen' (to check). If it is used without an object or with 'es' (it), it usually means 'verstehen' (to understand).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Rechnung gecheckt, alles stimmt.
I checked the invoice; everything is correct.
Typical usage
In the meaning 'verstehen' (to understand), 'checken' (to get) is very often used in questions or negative sentences to express that one does or does not grasp something.
EXAMPLE
Checkst du, wie die neue Software funktioniert?
Do you get how the new software works?
Compare with
checken vs kapieren
to get
Here, checken and kapieren both mean to understand in colloquial language. Checken usually sounds younger, more slang-like, and more influenced by English. Kapieren is also informal, but is less closely associated with youth language; both words can nevertheless be used in many informal situations.
checken
Im Chat mit seinen Freunden schreibt der Schüler, dass er die Aufgabe jetzt endlich checkt.
In a chat with his friends, the student writes that he finally gets the assignment.
kapieren
Im lockeren Gespräch sagt sein Vater, dass er die Aufgabe jetzt endlich kapiert.
In a casual conversation, his father says that he finally gets the assignment.
In real life
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