21 December 2025
How do you say Sip or Swallow in German?
The German word for sip, swallow, or mouthful is der Schluck.It refers to a small amount of liquid taken into the mouth and swallowed - whether it’s water, wine, or another drink.
It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and shows up in everyday speech, especially around food, drink, and medicine.
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Schluck.Still working on gender? Our video lesson teaches patterns that make it easier.
Pronunciation: Schluck is pronounced [ʃlʊk], approximately SHLUK
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Rhymes with book
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One syllable: SHLUK
Example sentences
Ich nehme noch einen Schluck Kaffee.I’ll have another sip of coffee.
Gib ihm einen Schluck Wasser!Give him a sip of water!
Sie trank alles in einem Schluck.She drank it all in one gulp.
Nuance and usage tips
🥤 Schluck usually refers to a small amount of liquid. You can use it when offering someone a sip, or when describing how someone drinks.
💊 It’s often used in medical or caregiving contexts: einen Schluck nehmen, mit einem Schluck Wasser.
😮💨 In casual speech you’ll also hear einen Schluck aus der Flasche nehmen (to take a swig from the bottle).
How does this word come up in real conversations?
“Willst du einen Schluck probieren?”Want to try a sip?
“Ich brauche einen Schluck Wasser.”I need a sip of water.
“Er hat den ganzen Tee in einem Schluck runtergeschluckt.”He swallowed the whole tea in one gulp.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Tim: Ist das Tee?Lena: Ja. Willst du einen Schluck?Tim: Gern - ich hab Durst.Lena: Vorsicht, er ist noch heiß!
Translation:Tim: Is that tea?Lena: Yes. Want a sip?Tim: Sure - I’m thirsty.Lena: Careful, it’s still hot!
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Ein Schluck genügt.One sip is enough.
Accusative:Ich nehme einen Schluck Wasser.I’m taking a sip of water.
Dative:Mit dem Schluck ging es ihm besser.He felt better after that sip.
Genitive:Die Wirkung eines einzigen Schlucks war erstaunlich.The effect of a single sip was astonishing.
Other ways to say sip in German
Schlückchen is a cute or polite diminutive for a little sip. Zug (pull) is used for a longer draw from a bottle or cigarette. For gulp or swig, you might hear Schluck in more robust contexts too.
Word variations and tidbits
You’ll often see Schluck in:
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Schluck Wasser - sip of water
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in einem Schluck - in one gulp
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einen Schluck nehmen - to take a sip
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Schluckauf - hiccups (literally “swallow-up”)
🧠 Fun fact: The verb schlucken means “to swallow” - closely tied to der Schluck. It’s used literally and metaphorically (like eine bittere Pille schlucken = to swallow a bitter pill).
📘 Duden entry for Schluck:https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Schluck🎥 Want a refreshing sip of real German? Our video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns - served in easy, memorable portions.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Schloss means? After a tour through one, you’ll need a Schluck.And what about Notfall? It’s a word worth knowing when you need urgent help.
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