kicken
to play soccer
Colloquial for playing soccer.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Schule treffen wir uns immer im Park zum Kicken.
After school, we always meet in the park to play soccer.
kicken
to play soccer / kick / kick out
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Meanings
kicken
to kick
To hit or strike something with the foot.
EXAMPLE
Er kickte gelangweilt einen Stein vor sich her.
He boredly kicked a stone along in front of him.
kicken
to kick out
In youth slang, to remove someone from a group, an online game, or a chat.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich so danebenbenommen, dass der Admin ihn aus dem Spiel gekickt hat.
He behaved so badly that the admin kicked him out of the game.
Usage tips
Origin of the word
The verb 'kicken' is a loanword from English ('to kick'). It has become established especially in colloquial language and youth slang.
EXAMPLE
Das Wort „kicken“ wird von jungen Leuten oft benutzt.
The word 'kicken' is often used by young people.
Register: colloquial
In the meaning 'Fußball spielen' (to play soccer), 'kicken' is clearly colloquial. In formal contexts or sports news, you would use 'Fußball spielen' instead.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns später eine Runde kicken gehen!
Let's go play a round of soccer later!
Register: youth slang
The meaning 'jemanden aus einer Gruppe entfernen' (to remove someone from a group) is typical youth slang and is used almost exclusively in the context of online games, chats, or social media.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du weiter störst, kicken wir dich aus der Gruppe.
If you keep causing trouble, we'll kick you out of the group.
Sentence structure
When someone is removed from a group, the fixed structure is: 'jemanden (Akkusativ) aus etwas (Dativ) kicken' (to kick someone out of something).
EXAMPLE
Der Administrator hat ihn aus dem Forum gekickt.
The administrator kicked him out of the forum.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning from context: If it is about sports and leisure, it usually means 'Fußball spielen' (to play soccer). If there is an object like 'einen Stein' (a stone), it means 'treten' (to kick). In an online context with a person as the object, it means 'rauswerfen' (to kick out).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder kicken auf der Wiese. (Fußball spielen)
The children are playing soccer on the meadow. (playing soccer)
Compare with
kicken vs spielen
to play
Spielen and kicken can both refer to playing soccer as an activity. Spielen is the neutral form that works in general, while kicken sounds colloquial and emphasizes soccer more strongly. Spielen is safer in a normal conversation about sports, while kicken also fits among friends.
kicken
Wir kicken am Samstag nach dem Training noch eine Stunde auf dem Rasen.
We’re kicking the ball around on the field for another hour after practice on Saturday.
spielen
Wir spielen am Samstag nach dem Training noch eine Stunde Fußball.
We’re playing soccer for another hour after practice on Saturday.
In real life
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