01
der Schluck
sip
A small amount of liquid that you take into your mouth and drink at one time.
example
Möchtest du einen Schluck Wasser?
Would you like a sip of water?
der Schluck
sip / swallow
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'der Schluck' (sip/swallow) is derived directly from the verb 'schlucken' (to swallow). The act of drinking or eating in small amounts is thus connected linguistically.
EXAMPLE
Er konnte vor Trockenheit kaum schlucken.
His throat was so dry that he could hardly swallow.
Typical collocations
In the meaning “small amount of liquid,” 'Schluck' (sip) is often combined with the verb 'nehmen' (to take). You can also say how someone drinks, for example 'in kleinen Schlucken' (in small sips).
EXAMPLE
Darf ich bitte einen Schluck von deinem Saft nehmen?
May I please take a sip of your juice?
Usage pattern
When the act of swallowing is meant, 'Schluck' (swallow) often appears with the preposition 'mit' (with). This construction describes how something is swallowed down.
EXAMPLE
Sie nahm die Pille mit einem großen Schluck Tee.
She took the pill with a large swallow of tea.
Compare with
Schluck vs Zug
train / move / draft
'der Zug' and 'der Schluck' can both have to do with taking something in through the mouth. 'ein Zug' emphasizes the motion of sucking or drawing something in, for example with smoke or sometimes with a drink from a bottle. 'ein Schluck' usually means a small amount of liquid that you drink, or the act of swallowing. They can be confused when talking about drinking. But the more natural usage is: you take water or coffee in 'Schlucke' (sips); you take 'einen Zug' (a drag / puff) from a cigarette.
Schluck
Vor dem Vortrag trinkt Anna noch einen Schluck Wasser.
Before the presentation, Anna takes another sip of water.
Zug
Nach einem Zug aus der Zigarette hustete er kurz.
After taking a drag from the cigarette, he coughed briefly.
In real life
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