En 15 secondes
- Walks without a specific destination.
- Implies a relaxed, unhurried pace.
- Perfect for exploring or enjoying scenery.
- Use for leisure, not for rushing.
Signification
Il s'agit de marcher sans destination précise, juste en profitant du trajet. Imaginez une promenade détendue dans un parc ou une vieille ville charmante, en vous imprégnant de l'atmosphère. C'est un rythme tranquille, tout tourne autour de l'expérience, pas de la vitesse.
Exemples clés
3 sur 12Texting a friend about weekend plans
Lass uns am Samstag durch die Altstadt `schlendern` und ein Eis essen.
Let's stroll through the old town on Saturday and eat an ice cream.
Instagram caption for a park visit
Ein wunderschöner Nachmittag, um durch den Park zu `schlendern`. 🌳☀️
A beautiful afternoon to stroll through the park. 🌳☀️
Describing a vacation activity
Wir sind jeden Abend am Strand entlang `geschlendert`.
We strolled along the beach every evening.
Contexte culturel
The 'Sonntagsspaziergang' is a deeply rooted tradition where families stroll through nature to reset for the work week. In Vienna, 'schlendern' through the 'Graben' or 'Kärntner Straße' is a classic activity for locals and tourists alike, often ending in a coffee house. The concept of the 'Flaneur' (the urban stroller) is central to European literature, especially in cities like Berlin and Paris. In the digital age, 'schlendern' is being rediscovered as a mindfulness practice to combat 'Burnout'.
Use with 'gemütlich'
Pairing 'schlendern' with 'gemütlich' (cozy/comfortable) is the ultimate way to sound like a native speaker describing a perfect afternoon.
Auxiliary Verb
Don't forget: It's 'Ich BIN geschlendert'. Using 'habe' is a very common mistake for English speakers.
En 15 secondes
- Walks without a specific destination.
- Implies a relaxed, unhurried pace.
- Perfect for exploring or enjoying scenery.
- Use for leisure, not for rushing.
What It Means
Schlendern is all about the journey, not the destination. You're not rushing anywhere important. It implies a relaxed, unhurried pace. You might be window shopping or just enjoying the scenery. It’s a very pleasant way to move.
How To Use It
Use schlendern when you're walking for pleasure. It’s perfect for a sunny afternoon. Imagine strolling through a park or along a beach. You can also use it for exploring a new city. It fits exploring a market too. It’s about taking your time. Don't use it if you're late for a meeting. That would be quite funny, actually!
Real-Life Examples
- After the big exam, we decided to
schlendernthrough the city center. We had no plans. It felt amazing to just wander. - On vacation, my favorite activity was to
schlendernalong the promenade. The sea breeze was lovely. I saw so many interesting things. - Let's
schlendernthrough the Christmas market later. We can grab some Glühwein. It’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.
When To Use It
Use schlendern for leisurely walks. Think about exploring a new town. It’s great for a relaxed weekend activity. Picture yourself walking in a beautiful garden. It fits a lazy Sunday afternoon perfectly. It's also good for a casual date. You want to chat and enjoy the surroundings. It’s the opposite of power walking.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use schlendern if you're in a hurry. If you're running to catch a train, this word is wrong. It doesn't fit a brisk walk to the gym. You wouldn't schlendern to an important job interview. That would send the wrong signal. Save it for relaxed moments only. You don't want to look like you're not taking things seriously.
Common Mistakes
eilen to the supermarket.
✓I need to eilen to the supermarket.
(Here, eilen means to hurry, which is the opposite of schlendern.)
rennen through the park.
✓Let's rennen through the park.
(Rennen means to run, much too fast for strolling.)
marschierten to the concert.
✓We marschierten to the concert.
(Marschieren implies a determined, often military-like march, not a relaxed stroll.)
Similar Expressions
Spazieren gehen: This is a very general term for going for a walk. It can be leisurely or a bit more brisk.Schlendernis *always* leisurely.Bummeln: Similar toschlendern, often used for window shopping or browsing. It can sometimes imply being a bit slow or dawdling.Wandern: This means hiking, usually in nature, and implies more effort and a specific route.Sch}))$: This means to wander or roam, often without a clear direction, but can sometimes feel a bit aimless.
Common Variations
Gemütlich schlendern: This emphasizes the cozy, comfortable aspect. "Let'sgemütlich schlendernthrough the old town." (Let's comfortably stroll through the old town.)Vor sich hin schlendern: This means to stroll absentmindedly. "He was justvor sich hin schlendernin the park." (He was just strolling absentmindedly in the park.)Entspannt schlendern: Similar togemütlich, meaning to stroll in a relaxed manner. "We decided toentspannt schlendernalong the river." (We decided to stroll relaxedly along the river.)
Memory Trick
Think of a Schlenker (a bend or detour) you take on your walk. You're not going straight; you're schlenderning around, taking your time. Or imagine Schnecken (snails) – they move slowly and deliberately, just like you do when you schlendern!
Quick FAQ
Q. Is schlendern faster or slower than spazieren gehen?
A. Schlendern is typically slower and more relaxed than spazieren gehen. Spazieren gehen is a general walk, while schlendern specifically means to amble without purpose.
Q. Can I use schlendern for a walk in the mountains?
A. Usually not. Schlendern is best for urban areas, parks, or beaches. For mountains, you'd use wandern (hiking). Unless it's a very gentle, flat path and you're truly just meandering, stick to wandern.
Q. Does schlendern always mean I'm not going anywhere important?
A. Yes, that's the core idea! It implies a lack of urgency and a focus on enjoying the surroundings rather than reaching a specific destination quickly.
Notes d'usage
This is a distinctly informal verb, best suited for casual conversations and descriptions of leisure activities. Avoid it in formal writing or when discussing situations requiring speed or efficiency, as it implies a leisurely, unhurried pace.
Use with 'gemütlich'
Pairing 'schlendern' with 'gemütlich' (cozy/comfortable) is the ultimate way to sound like a native speaker describing a perfect afternoon.
Auxiliary Verb
Don't forget: It's 'Ich BIN geschlendert'. Using 'habe' is a very common mistake for English speakers.
The Flaneur
If you want to sound sophisticated, mention that you like to 'flanieren' instead of 'schlendern' when you are in a fancy area.
Exemples
12Lass uns am Samstag durch die Altstadt `schlendern` und ein Eis essen.
Let's stroll through the old town on Saturday and eat an ice cream.
Suggests a relaxed exploration of the town center.
Ein wunderschöner Nachmittag, um durch den Park zu `schlendern`. 🌳☀️
A beautiful afternoon to stroll through the park. 🌳☀️
Captures the leisurely enjoyment of nature.
Wir sind jeden Abend am Strand entlang `geschlendert`.
We strolled along the beach every evening.
Highlights a relaxing, routine activity during a holiday.
Er hat mich nach dem Kino noch zum `Schlendern` eingeladen.
He invited me to stroll after the cinema.
Implies a casual, unhurried continuation of the date.
Bin gerade auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt, werde noch ein bisschen `schlendern`.
I'm at the Christmas market right now, will stroll around a bit more.
Perfect for browsing stalls without a fixed purpose.
Er kam erst zehn Minuten später an, weil er durch die Stadt `geschlendert` ist.
He only arrived ten minutes late because he strolled through the city.
Shows the consequence of using `schlendern` when punctuality is expected.
Ich schätze die Gelegenheit, mehr über Ihr Unternehmen zu erfahren, und freue mich darauf, weitere Schritte zu besprechen.
I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your company and look forward to discussing further steps.
This is not an example of `schlendern`, but shows professional language. `Schlendern` would be inappropriate here.
Die Teilnehmer wurden gebeten, die Ausstellung zu besichtigen.
The participants were asked to view the exhibition.
This uses a more formal verb (`besichtigen`) instead of `schlendern`.
✗ Wir müssen zum Bahnhof `schlendern`. → ✓ Wir müssen zum Bahnhof `eilen`.
✗ We have to stroll to the station. → ✓ We have to hurry to the station.
`Schlendern` implies slowness, `eilen` means to hurry.
✗ Ich werde durch den Wald `schlendern`. → ✓ Ich werde durch den Wald `rennen`.
✗ I will stroll through the forest. → ✓ I will run through the forest.
`Schlendern` is slow and relaxed; `rennen` is fast running.
Ich erinnere mich gerne, wie wir als Kinder durch die Sommerwiesen `geschlendert` sind.
I fondly remember how we strolled through the summer meadows as children.
Evokes a nostalgic and carefree feeling associated with childhood.
Hey Leute! Heute `schlendern` wir mal ganz entspannt durch die Gassen von Rom. Kommt mit!
Hey guys! Today we're just going to stroll very relaxedly through the alleys of Rome. Come along!
Typical vlogger language inviting viewers to join a casual exploration.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'schlendern' in the Perfekt.
Gestern ______ wir stundenlang durch {den|m} Englischen Garten ______.
Verbs of motion like 'schlendern' use 'sein' (sind) in the Perfekt.
Which sentence is contextually correct?
Choose the best use of 'schlendern':
Schlendern implies a slow, relaxed pace, which fits a beach walk perfectly.
Match the verb with the correct context.
Match the walking verbs:
Each verb describes a specific speed and purpose of walking.
Complete the dialogue with the correct word.
A: Hast du Lust auf ein bisschen Bewegung? B: Ja, aber nichts Anstrengendes. Lass uns einfach ein bisschen durch {das|n} Viertel ______.
Schlendern is the perfect 'non-strenuous' movement.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Types of Walking in German
Slow & Relaxed
- • schlendern
- • bummeln
- • flanieren
Purposeful
- • gehen
- • laufen
- • eilen
Sporty
- • wandern
- • joggen
- • walken
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesGestern ______ wir stundenlang durch {den|m} Englischen Garten ______.
Verbs of motion like 'schlendern' use 'sein' (sind) in the Perfekt.
Choose the best use of 'schlendern':
Schlendern implies a slow, relaxed pace, which fits a beach walk perfectly.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Each verb describes a specific speed and purpose of walking.
A: Hast du Lust auf ein bisschen Bewegung? B: Ja, aber nichts Anstrengendes. Lass uns einfach ein bisschen durch {das|n} Viertel ______.
Schlendern is the perfect 'non-strenuous' movement.
🎉 Score : /4
Tutoriels video
Trouve des tutoriels vidéo sur YouTube pour cette expression.
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsAlmost, but 'schlendern' is more specific. It emphasizes a very slow, aimless pace. 'Spazieren gehen' is the general activity of going for a walk.
Yes, you can say a dog is 'schlendern' if it's walking very slowly and sniffing around, but it's more common for humans.
'Bummeln' usually involves looking at shops or stopping at stalls. 'Schlendern' is just about the movement of walking.
No, it's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
In German, most verbs that describe a change of location (movement from A to B) use 'sein' as the auxiliary verb.
Expressions liées
bummeln
synonymTo stroll, often with the intent of shopping.
flanieren
synonymTo stroll elegantly to see and be seen.
spazieren gehen
similarTo go for a walk.
trödeln
contrastTo dawdle or waste time.
