nuckeln an
to suck on
To suck on something, usually slowly and repeatedly, such as a breast, pacifier, thumb, or cigarette.
EXAMPLE
Das Baby nuckelt zufrieden an seinem Schnuller.
The baby is happily sucking on its pacifier.
nuckeln
to suck
nuckeln – nuckelte – hat genuckelt
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry nuckeln, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | nuckle nuckele |
|---|---|
| du | nuckelst |
| er/sie/es | nuckelt |
| wir | nuckeln |
| ihr | nuckelt |
| sie | nuckeln |
Simple past
| ich | nuckelte |
|---|---|
| du | nuckeltest |
| er/sie/es | nuckelte |
| wir | nuckelten |
| ihr | nuckeltet |
| sie | nuckelten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe genuckelt |
|---|---|
| du | hast genuckelt |
| er/sie/es | hat genuckelt |
| wir | haben genuckelt |
| ihr | habt genuckelt |
| sie | haben genuckelt |
Commands
| du | nuckele! nuckle!, nuckel! |
|---|---|
| ihr | nuckelt! |
| Sie | nuckeln Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte genuckelt |
|---|---|
| du | hattest genuckelt |
| er/sie/es | hatte genuckelt |
| wir | hatten genuckelt |
| ihr | hattet genuckelt |
| sie | hatten genuckelt |
Future
| ich | werde nuckeln |
|---|---|
| du | wirst nuckeln |
| er/sie/es | wird nuckeln |
| wir | werden nuckeln |
| ihr | werdet nuckeln |
| sie | werden nuckeln |
Subjunctive I
| ich | nuckele nuckle |
|---|---|
| du | nuckelst nucklest |
| er/sie/es | nuckele nuckle |
| wir | nuckeln |
| ihr | nuckelt nucklet |
| sie | nuckeln |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | nuckelte |
|---|---|
| du | nuckeltest |
| er/sie/es | nuckelte |
| wir | nuckelten |
| ihr | nuckeltet |
| sie | nuckelten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | nuckeln |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu nuckeln |
| present participle | nuckelnd |
| past participle | genuckelt |
Usage tips
Fixed preposition
In this meaning, 'nuckeln' (to suck on) is usually used with 'an' and the dative. The object following 'an' indicates what the person or child is sucking on.
EXAMPLE
Der Kleine nuckelt an seinem Daumen.
The little boy is sucking on his thumb.
Sie nuckelte an einem Lutscher.
She sucked on a lollipop.
Typical collocations
Common expressions include 'an der Brust nuckeln' (to suck on the breast), 'am Schnuller nuckeln' (to suck on a pacifier), 'am Daumen nuckeln' (to suck one's thumb), and 'an einer Zigarette nuckeln' (to suck on a cigarette). The verb usually describes slow, repeated sucking.
EXAMPLE
Das Neugeborene nuckelte eine Weile an der Brust und schlief dann ein.
The newborn suckled at the breast for a while and then fell asleep.
Er saß auf der Bank und nuckelte an einer Zigarette.
He sat on the bench, sucking on a cigarette.
Register and context
'Nuckeln' (to suck on something) is colloquial and is especially common in conversations about babies and young children. When used about adults, the word can sound humorous or derogatory depending on the situation.
EXAMPLE
Die Eltern erzählten, dass ihr Sohn noch gern am Schnuller nuckelt.
The parents said that their son still likes sucking on his pacifier.
In real life
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