sickern
to seep
To slowly and gradually pass through small openings or porous material, usually referring to a liquid.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Regen sickerte das Wasser langsam in den Boden.
After the rain, the water slowly seeped into the ground.
sickern
to seep
sickern – sickerte – hat gesickert
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Meanings
sickern
to seep out
To gradually become known or public, usually referring to information or news.
EXAMPLE
Das Gerücht über die Entlassungen sickerte allmählich bis in die letzte Abteilung.
The rumor about the layoffs gradually seeped through to the last department.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry sickern, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | sickere sickre |
|---|---|
| du | sickerst |
| er/sie/es | sickert |
| wir | sickern |
| ihr | sickert |
| sie | sickern |
Simple past
| ich | sickerte |
|---|---|
| du | sickertest |
| er/sie/es | sickerte |
| wir | sickerten |
| ihr | sickertet |
| sie | sickerten |
Perfect
with sein
| ich | habe gesickert |
|---|---|
| du | hast gesickert |
| er/sie/es | hat gesickert |
| wir | haben gesickert |
| ihr | habt gesickert |
| sie | haben gesickert |
Commands
| du | sickere! sicker!, sickre! |
|---|---|
| ihr | sickert! |
| Sie | sickern Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte gesickert |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gesickert |
| er/sie/es | hatte gesickert |
| wir | hatten gesickert |
| ihr | hattet gesickert |
| sie | hatten gesickert |
Future
| ich | werde sickern |
|---|---|
| du | wirst sickern |
| er/sie/es | wird sickern |
| wir | werden sickern |
| ihr | werdet sickern |
| sie | werden sickern |
Subjunctive I
| ich | sickere sickre |
|---|---|
| du | sickerst |
| er/sie/es | sickere sickre |
| wir | sickern |
| ihr | sickert |
| sie | sickern |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | sickerte |
|---|---|
| du | sickertest |
| er/sie/es | sickerte |
| wir | sickerten |
| ihr | sickertet |
| sie | sickerten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | sickern |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu sickern |
| present participle | sickernd |
| past participle | gesickert |
Usage tips
Context clue
With 'sickern' (to seep), the subject usually indicates the meaning: water or another liquid points to slow penetration; news, information, or a rumor points to gradually becoming known. Time expressions such as 'allmählich' (gradually), 'nach und nach' (little by little), or 'langsam' (slowly) work with both meanings.
EXAMPLE
Durch einen Riss sickert Wasser in den Keller.
Water is seeping into the basement through a crack.
Die Information sickerte erst nach Tagen an die Öffentlichkeit.
The information only seeped out to the public after several days.
Typical collocations
For the meaning involving liquids, 'Wasser' (water), 'Regen' (rain), or 'Feuchtigkeit' (moisture) often appear as the subject. Typical expressions indicating direction are 'in den Boden' (into the ground), 'ins Mauerwerk' (into the masonry), and 'durch die Erde' (through the soil).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Unwetter sickerte Feuchtigkeit durch die Kellerwand.
After the storm, moisture seeped through the basement wall.
Das Regenwasser sickert langsam in die Erde.
The rainwater is slowly seeping into the soil.
News context
When referring to information, 'sickern' (to seep) often appears with 'nach und nach' (little by little), 'allmählich' (gradually), or 'an die Öffentlichkeit' (to the public). The verb describes a message becoming known step by step rather than immediately.
EXAMPLE
Einzelheiten über den Plan sickerten nach und nach an die Öffentlichkeit.
Details about the plan gradually seeped out to the public.
In real life
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