01
spucken
to spit
To deliberately expel saliva or other liquids from the mouth.
example
Es ist unhöflich, auf den Boden zu spucken.
It is impolite to spit on the ground.
spucken
to spit
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Register and style
Spitting itself is considered very impolite or disrespectful in many situations. Therefore, the word 'spucken' often has a negative or coarse connotation, even though it is a neutral verb in itself.
EXAMPLE
Der Fußballspieler wurde bestraft, weil er auf das Spielfeld gespuckt hatte.
The soccer player was punished because he had spat on the field.
Sentence structure
In its basic meaning, 'spucken' can stand without an object. The direction is then often indicated by a preposition such as 'auf' (on/onto) or 'in' (in/into).
EXAMPLE
Bitte nicht auf den Teppich spucken!
Please don't spit on the carpet!
Use with an object
When removing something from the mouth, 'spucken' needs an accusative object. This object is the thing you spit out.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind hat das bittere Medikament sofort wieder gespuckt.
The child immediately spat the bitter medicine back out.
Context clue
When the subject of the sentence is a machine, a volcano, or another non-human thing, 'spucken' means something like 'to emit something in bursts'.
EXAMPLE
Der Vulkan begann, Asche und Lava zu spucken.
The volcano began to spew ash and lava.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'Gift und Galle spucken' (to spit poison and bile) is a fixed unit. It means that someone is extremely angry and expresses this anger with nasty words.
EXAMPLE
Als er die Rechnung sah, spuckte er Gift und Galle.
When he saw the bill, he spat venom.
Fixed expression
'In die Hände spucken' (to spit into one's hands) is a figurative idiom. It means that you begin a task with determination and energy.
EXAMPLE
Die Pause ist vorbei, lasst uns in die Hände spucken und weitermachen!
The break is over, let's roll up our sleeves and carry on!
Compare with
spucken vs spritzen
to inject / spray
'spritzen' and 'spucken' can both mean that something comes out as a liquid or in small bursts. The most important difference is the source and the type of action. 'spucken' normally comes from the mouth: you spit saliva, a pit, or something unpleasant out. 'spritzen' is more general and means that a liquid comes out as a stream or is finely distributed, for example water from a hose or oil from a pan. Learners may confuse the words because in both cases something flies out. As a practical rule: from the mouth, you usually say 'spucken'; with water, paint, or other liquids, often 'spritzen'.
spucken
Er hat den Kirschkern in eine Serviette gespuckt.
He spat the cherry pit into a napkin.
spritzen
Beim Abwaschen spritzt das Wasser über den Rand der Spüle.
While washing the dishes, the water splashes over the edge of the sink.
In real life
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