mischen
to mix
To combine different substances or ingredients into a uniform mass or liquid.
EXAMPLE
Für den Cocktail mischt man einfach Saft und Sekt.
For the cocktail, you simply mix juice and sparkling wine.
mischen
to mix
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Meanings
mischen
to shuffle
To put things, especially playing cards, into a random order.
EXAMPLE
Du bist dran mit Karten mischen.
It's your turn to shuffle the cards.
sich mischen in
to interfere in
To interfere in other people's affairs; to get involved in something that is none of one's business.
EXAMPLE
Misch dich bitte nicht in meine privaten Angelegenheiten!
Please don't interfere in my private affairs!
sich mischen unter
to mingle with
To move into a crowd of people and become part of it, often in order to remain unnoticed.
EXAMPLE
Der Geheimagent mischte sich unbemerkt unter die Gäste.
The secret agent mingled unnoticed with the guests.
Usage tips
Reflexive with a preposition
As a reflexive verb, 'sich mischen' changes its meaning depending on the preposition. 'Sich in etwas (Akkusativ) mischen' means to interfere where one is not wanted. 'Sich unter jemanden (Akkusativ) mischen' means to become part of a group.
EXAMPLE
Bitte misch dich nicht in meine Angelegenheiten!
Please don't interfere in my affairs!
Typical collocations
In its basic meaning, 'mischen' (to mix) is often combined with things that are joined together. Typical phrases are: 'Zutaten mischen' (to mix ingredients), 'Farben mischen' (to mix colors), 'einen Salat mischen' (to toss a salad), or 'Getränke mischen' (to mix drinks).
EXAMPLE
Der Maler mischt die Farben auf seiner Palette.
The painter mixes the colors on his palette.
Fixed expression
In the context of games, 'Karten mischen' (to shuffle cards) is a fixed expression. It means to put the playing cards into a random order before dealing them.
EXAMPLE
Wer ist als Nächstes mit dem Mischen der Karten dran?
Whose turn is it next to shuffle the cards?
Fixed construction
The phrase 'sich in etwas mischen' always follows this pattern: reflexive verb + preposition 'in' + accusative. The object is often an abstract noun such as 'Angelegenheiten' (affairs), 'ein Gespräch' (a conversation), or 'Politik' (politics).
EXAMPLE
Er hat die schlechte Angewohnheit, sich immer in fremde Gespräche zu mischen.
He has the bad habit of always interfering in other people's conversations.
Compare with
mischen vs kombinieren
to combine
Both words can describe bringing ingredients or other things together. “Mischen” emphasizes blending them into a uniform mass or liquid, whereas “kombinieren” tends to refer to a suitable arrangement of different components. Use “mischen” when they merge into one another and “kombinieren” when they remain recognizably separate.
mischen
Für das Dressing mischte sie Öl und Essig zu einer einheitlichen Flüssigkeit.
For the dressing, she mixed the oil and vinegar into a uniform liquid.
kombinieren
Für den Salat kombinierte sie knackiges Gemüse mit gerösteten Nüssen.
For the salad, she combined crisp vegetables with roasted nuts.
In real life
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