to flirt
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to flirt
To show interest in another person in a playful, often nonverbal way in order to suggest romantic or sexual attraction.
Sie haben den ganzen Abend an der Bar miteinander geflirtet.
They flirted with each other at the bar all evening.
The verb 'flirten' (to flirt) is always used with the preposition 'mit' (with) and the dative. This applies both to flirting with people and to toying with an idea.
Er hat auf der Party mit einer interessanten Frau geflirtet.
He flirted with an interesting woman at the party.
You can tell whether the romantic or the figurative meaning is intended from the object after 'mit' (with). If a person follows, it is romantic interest. If an idea or thought follows, it is about considering something.
Im Café flirtete er mit der Kellnerin.
In the café, he flirted with the waitress.
In the figurative meaning, 'flirten' (to flirt) is often combined with abstract nouns such as 'Idee' (idea), 'Gedanke' (thought), or 'Möglichkeit' (possibility).
Ich flirte schon lange mit der Möglichkeit, ein Sabbatical zu nehmen.
I have been flirting with the possibility of taking a sabbatical for a long time.
to seduce / tempt
'flirten' and 'verführen' can both have to do with romantic or sexual interest. However, 'flirten' is usually playful, light, and often noncommittal. You show interest without anything necessarily having to happen right away. 'verführen' is stronger: one person gets another person to do something through charm, pressure, or persuasion. It can have a more sexual meaning and often sounds less harmless. Learners may confuse the words because they occur in similar situations. As a guide: when you 'flirten', you show interest; when you 'verführen', you want to move someone to do something.
Auf der Party flirtet Tim mit einer Frau, die er gerade kennengelernt hat.
At the party, Tim flirts with a woman he has just met.
Der Film zeigt, wie er sie mit vielen Versprechen verführen will.
The film shows how he tries to seduce her with many promises.