das Saugen
sucking
The drawing in of liquid through the mouth by creating suction, or applying such suction with the mouth to something.
EXAMPLE
Durch das Saugen an der Brust erhält das Baby Milch.
By sucking at the breast, the baby gets milk.
das Saugen
sucking / vacuuming
das Saugen
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Meanings
das Saugen
vacuuming
Cleaning floors, furniture, or other surfaces with a vacuum cleaner.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Saugen war der Teppich frei von Staub und Tierhaaren.
After vacuuming, the carpet was free of dust and pet hair.
das Saugen
suction
Drawing in or taking up air, liquids, or other substances by creating suction.
EXAMPLE
Beim Saugen erzeugt die Pumpe einen Unterdruck, durch den das Wasser in den Schlauch gelangt.
During suction, the pump creates a vacuum that draws the water into the hose.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Saugen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Saugens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Saugen | – |
| accusative | das Saugen | – |
| dative | dem Saugen | – |
| genitive | des Saugens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Nominalized verb
„Das Saugen“ (sucking / vacuuming) is the nominalized infinitive of „saugen“ (to suck) and refers to the activity or process. It frequently occurs in phrases such as „beim Saugen“ (while sucking / vacuuming) or „durch das Saugen“ (through sucking / vacuuming); „Saugen“ remains capitalized in these expressions.
EXAMPLE
Beim Saugen bemerkte sie einen kleinen Fleck auf dem Teppich.
While vacuuming, she noticed a small spot on the carpet.
Context clue
The meaning can often be recognized from the surrounding words: „an der Brust“ (at the breast) or „an der Flasche“ (at the bottle) points to sucking with the mouth, „Staubsauger“ (vacuum cleaner) or „Teppich“ (carpet) to cleaning, and „Pumpe“ (pump), „Schlauch“ (hose), or „Unterdruck“ (vacuum) to a technical process.
EXAMPLE
Das Saugen an der Flasche beruhigte das Baby.
Sucking on the bottle calmed the baby.
Beim Saugen mit dem Staubsauger verschwand der Schmutz schnell.
While vacuuming with the vacuum cleaner, the dirt quickly disappeared.
Durch das Saugen der Pumpe gelangte Wasser in den Schlauch.
The pump's suction drew water into the hose.
Fixed preposition
When „das Saugen“ (sucking) refers to sucking with the mouth on something, „an“ (at / on) is often used with the dative. The construction is therefore „das Saugen an etwas“ (sucking on something) or „das Saugen an jemandem“ (sucking on someone).
EXAMPLE
Das Saugen am Strohhalm fiel dem kleinen Jungen noch schwer.
Sucking through a straw was still difficult for the little boy.
Typical collocation
When referring to cleaning, „das Saugen“ (vacuuming) is often used with „mit dem Staubsauger“ (with a vacuum cleaner) or with the surface being cleaned. The activity can be described as part of housework.
EXAMPLE
Das Saugen mit dem Staubsauger dauert in der großen Wohnung fast eine Stunde.
Vacuuming with the vacuum cleaner takes almost an hour in the large apartment.
Technical context
In technical contexts, „das Saugen“ (suction) often occurs with words such as „Unterdruck“ (vacuum), „Pumpe“ (pump), „Luft“ (air), or „Wasser“ (water). It is often explained what is taken up by this process or what effect it has.
EXAMPLE
Durch das Saugen der Pumpe wurde die Luft aus dem Behälter entfernt.
The pump's suction removed the air from the container.
In real life
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