German edit

Etymology edit

18th century. Variant of a Low German and Central German verb (pudeln, puddeln). The contemporary form seems to have spread from Berlin.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈbʊdəln/
  • (file)

Verb edit

buddeln (weak, third-person singular present buddelt, past tense buddelte, past participle gebuddelt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (informal) to dig, especially with one’s hands or paws
    Synonym: graben
    • 1998, Denyo, Eizi Eiz (lyrics and music), “Liebes Lied (Liebeslied)”, in Bambule[1], performed by Absolute Beginner:
      Du hast deinen Schatz gefunden, ohne lang zu buddeln,
      Bock, ihn in den Arm zu nehmen und stundenlang zu knuddeln.
      You’ve found your darling (lit. treasure), without digging for long,
      Now you want to take them in your arms and cuddle for hours.

Conjugation edit

Further reading edit

  • buddeln” in Duden online
  • buddeln” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache