to haunt
spuken – spukte – hat gespukt
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to haunt
To appear as a ghost or make oneself known through eerie sounds and apparitions. The phrase “es spukt” (there are ghosts / it is haunted) is often used to express that ghosts are supposedly active in a place.
Man erzählt sich, dass es nachts in der alten Burg spukt.
People say that the old castle is haunted at night.
to haunt
Figuratively: To keep coming up as a thought, idea, or rumor and occupy someone's mind, or to circulate among people.
Die Idee einer Weltreise spukt schon seit Jahren in ihrem Kopf.
The idea of traveling around the world has been haunting her for years.
| ich | spuke |
|---|---|
| du | spukst |
| er/sie/es | spukt |
| wir | spuken |
| ihr | spukt |
| sie | spuken |
| ich | spukte |
|---|---|
| du | spuktest |
| er/sie/es | spukte |
| wir | spukten |
| ihr | spuktet |
| sie | spukten |
| ich | habe gespukt |
|---|---|
| du | hast gespukt |
| er/sie/es | hat gespukt |
| wir | haben gespukt |
| ihr | habt gespukt |
| sie | haben gespukt |
| du | spuk! spuke! |
|---|---|
| ihr | spukt! |
| Sie | spuken Sie! |
| ich | hatte gespukt |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gespukt |
| er/sie/es | hatte gespukt |
| wir | hatten gespukt |
| ihr | hattet gespukt |
| sie | hatten gespukt |
| ich | werde spuken |
|---|---|
| du | wirst spuken |
| er/sie/es | wird spuken |
| wir | werden spuken |
| ihr | werdet spuken |
| sie | werden spuken |
| ich | spuke |
|---|---|
| du | spukest |
| er/sie/es | spuke |
| wir | spuken |
| ihr | spuket |
| sie | spuken |
Used for reported speech.
| ich | spukte |
|---|---|
| du | spuktest |
| er/sie/es | spukte |
| wir | spukten |
| ihr | spuktet |
| sie | spukten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
| infinitive | spuken |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu spuken |
| present participle | spukend |
| past participle | gespukt |
“Spuken” (to haunt) belongs to the word family of “der Spuk” (the haunting / supernatural phenomenon) and refers to something eerie or difficult to explain. This connection helps you recognize the literal and figurative meanings.
In dem verlassenen Haus soll es seit Jahren spuken.
The abandoned house is supposedly haunted and has been for years.
For the literal meaning, “spuken” (to haunt) is very often used impersonally with “es” (it). The location usually takes “in” with the dative, while the verb occupies the second position in the main clause.
In der alten Mühle spukt es angeblich jede Nacht.
The old mill is supposedly haunted every night.
In its figurative meaning, “spuken” (to haunt) is often used with thoughts, ideas, fears, or rumors. The pattern “jemandem im Kopf herumspuken” (to keep haunting someone's mind) is especially common for something that occupies someone's mind for a long time.
Der Gedanke an eine eigene Firma spukt ihm schon lange im Kopf herum.
The thought of starting his own company has been haunting him for a long time.
Seit dem Vorfall spukt ein seltsames Gerücht im Dorf herum.
A strange rumor has been circulating around the village since the incident.
