German

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Pronunciation

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  • (standard) IPA(key): /ˈʃlɛ.kən/
  • (often) IPA(key): /ˈʃlɛ.ʔŋ̩/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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schlecken (weak, third-person singular present schleckt, past tense schleckte, past participle geschleckt, auxiliary haben)

  1. to lick, to lap

Usage notes

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  • While this word is more common in the south, and even the standard word for to lick in many Swiss dialects, in the north it is exclusively associated with the consumption of sweets such as lollipops and ice cream or the consumption of milk by cats. But even in these cases it is used rather rarely. It should hence be avoided in formal conversation in favor of lecken, as it is likely to be perceived as queer or childish by people whose speech doesn't commonly include it.

Conjugation

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Further reading

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  • schlecken” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • schlecken” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • schlecken” in Duden online