Küssen en 30 secondes
- Standard German verb for 'to kiss'.
- Regular (weak) verb conjugation.
- Requires the Accusative case for the object.
- Used romantically, socially, and metaphorically.
The German verb küssen is a foundational action verb that every learner encounters early in their journey. At its most basic level, it translates directly to the English verb 'to kiss.' However, the cultural nuances of how, when, and whom Germans kiss can vary significantly from English-speaking norms. In the German language, küssen describes the act of touching one's lips to another person or an object, typically as a sign of affection, greeting, or reverence.
- Romantic Context
- In romantic relationships, küssen is the standard term for kissing on the lips. It is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object in the accusative case. For example, 'Ich küsse dich' (I kiss you).
Sie küssen sich leidenschaftlich im Regen.
Beyond romance, the verb is used for familial affection. Parents frequently küssen their children on the forehead or cheeks. In many German-speaking regions, especially in more formal or traditional settings, the 'Handkuss' (hand kiss) might still be mentioned in literature or seen in very formal etiquette, though the actual verb küssen remains the same. It is important to distinguish küssen from the noun der Kuss (the kiss), though they are closely related in usage.
- Social Greeting
- While Germans are often perceived as reserved, 'Wangenküsschen' (little cheek kisses) are common among friends, especially in urban areas or among younger generations. However, the verb used is still küssen, often specified as 'auf die Wange küssen'.
Zur Begrüßung küsste er sie flüchtig auf beide Wangen.
In a metaphorical sense, küssen appears in various idiomatic expressions. For instance, 'die Muse küssen' (to be kissed by the muse) refers to receiving sudden artistic inspiration. Similarly, 'den Boden küssen' (to kiss the ground) can mean falling down or showing extreme gratitude or humility. The verb's versatility allows it to transition from the most intimate of human connections to abstract concepts of luck and creativity. Understanding the breadth of küssen helps learners navigate social cues and literary depth in German culture.
- Grammatical Structure
- The verb is weak (regular), following the standard conjugation pattern: ich küsse, du küsst, er/sie/es küsst, wir küssen, ihr küsst, sie küssen. The past tense is 'küsste' and the perfect tense uses 'haben' + 'geküsst'.
Hast du ihn schon geküsst?
Man sollte die Gelegenheit küssen, wenn sie sich bietet.
Using küssen correctly requires an understanding of German sentence structure, particularly the use of the Accusative case. Since küssen is a transitive verb, the person or object being kissed is the direct object. For example, in 'Ich küsse den Hund' (I kiss the dog), 'den Hund' is in the accusative case. This rule remains consistent across all tenses and moods.
- Present Tense (Präsens)
- The present tense is used for current actions or habitual behaviors. 'Er küsst seine Frau jeden Morgen' (He kisses his wife every morning). Note that the 'du' and 'er/sie/es' forms both end in '-t' (küsst) because the stem already ends in 'ss'.
Warum küsst du mich nicht?
In the past tense, German offers two main options: the Präteritum and the Perfekt. The Präteritum (küsste) is more common in written narratives and formal storytelling. For instance, 'Dornröschen wurde wach, als der Prinz sie küsste' (Sleeping Beauty woke up when the prince kissed her). In everyday spoken German, the Perfekt (hat geküsst) is the standard way to describe a past event. 'Wir haben uns gestern zum ersten Mal geküsst' (We kissed for the first time yesterday).
- Imperative Mood
- Giving a command or request involves the imperative form. 'Küss mich!' (Kiss me!) is the informal singular, while 'Küsst mich!' is the informal plural, and 'Küssen Sie mich!' is the formal version.
Küss die Hand, gnädige Frau.
When adding specific locations on the body, German uses prepositions like 'auf' (on). 'Er küsst sie auf die Stirn' (He kisses her on the forehead). Here, 'die Stirn' is in the accusative because there is a direction or movement involved in the action. If you were to say 'He is kissing her under the mistletoe,' you would use 'unter dem Mistelzweig' (Dative), as it describes the location of the entire scene, not the specific target of the kiss.
- Modal Verbs
- When paired with modal verbs, 'küssen' stays in the infinitive at the end of the sentence. 'Ich möchte dich küssen' (I would like to kiss you) or 'Darf ich dich küssen?' (May I kiss you?).
Sie wollte ihn unbedingt küssen.
Lass uns den Abschied mit einem Kuss küssen.
The verb küssen is ubiquitous in German media, literature, and daily life. One of the most famous places you will encounter this word is in German pop music and 'Schlager'. Songs about love and heartbreak almost inevitably feature the word. From the iconic punk-rock band Die Ärzte in their song 'Männer sind Schweine' (where they sing about 'küssen' and 'belügen') to modern pop stars like Helene Fischer, the act of kissing is a central lyrical theme.
- In Cinema and Television
- In German 'Tatort' episodes or romantic comedies, you'll hear characters discuss their relationships using küssen. It’s often used in the context of a 'first kiss' (der erste Kuss) or when characters are arguing about infidelity ('Du hast ihn geküsst!').
In Filmen küssen sie sich immer im perfekten Moment.
In literature, küssen is a staple of both classical and contemporary works. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller used the verb to convey deep emotion and romantic idealism. In fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, a kiss is often the magical catalyst for breaking a spell, such as in 'The Frog Prince' (Der Froschkönig) or 'Sleeping Beauty' (Dornröschen). In these stories, the verb carries a weight of destiny and transformation.
- Daily Social Life
- You might hear people talking about greeting rituals. In Southern Germany or Austria, the phrase 'Küss die Hand' is a traditional, though now largely archaic or playful, greeting for ladies. More commonly, you'll hear friends say 'Soll ich dich zur Begrüßung küssen?' in a slightly awkward social situation.
Sie küssten sich zur Begrüßung rechts und links.
Social media and texting also feature küssen frequently. Emojis of kissing faces are often accompanied by 'Küsschen' (little kiss) or 'Kuss' at the end of messages between close friends or partners. In the world of advertising, brands might use the word to evoke feelings of comfort or luxury—for example, a chocolate that 'kisses your palate' (den Gaumen küssen).
- Idiomatic Speech
- In sports or high-stakes situations, you might hear 'Das war knapp, das hat den Pfosten nur geküsst!' (That was close, it only kissed the post!), describing a ball that just barely touched the goalpost.
Die Sonne küsst die Berggipfel am frühen Morgen.
Es ist Tradition, das Brautpaar nach dem Ja-Wort zu küssen.
For English speakers learning German, the verb küssen presents a few common pitfalls. The first and most frequent mistake is phonetic: confusing küssen (to kiss) with Kissen (pillow). While the difference might seem minor, the 'ü' sound requires rounding the lips while saying 'ee', whereas 'i' is flat. Mispronouncing this can lead to confusing sentences like 'Ich möchte mein Kissen' (I want my pillow) instead of 'Ich möchte dich küssen'.
- Case Errors
- Another common error is using the wrong case. Many learners mistakenly use the Dative case because they think of kissing as 'giving' a kiss to someone. However, küssen is strictly Accusative. Incorrect: 'Ich küsse dir' (Dative). Correct: 'Ich küsse dich' (Accusative).
Falsch: Ich küsse ihm. Richtig: Ich küsse ihn.
Conjugation of the 'du' and 'er/sie/es' forms also causes confusion. Because the stem 'küss-' ends in 'ss', the 'du' form doesn't add another 's'. It is 'du küsst', not 'du küssst'. This is a standard rule for German verbs ending in s-sounds, but it often trips up beginners who are strictly following the '-st' suffix rule.
- Preposition Pitfalls
- When specifying where the kiss lands, learners often use 'an' or 'in'. In German, 'auf' (on) is the standard preposition. 'Er küsst sie auf die Wange' is correct. Using 'an die Wange' sounds like he is kissing next to the cheek or against it in a strange way.
Er küsst sie auf (nicht an) den Mund.
Finally, the distinction between 'küssen' and 'knutschen' is a matter of register. 'Küssen' is the general, polite, and romantic term. 'Knutschen' is more like 'making out' or 'heavy petting' and can sound a bit crude or childish depending on the context. Using 'knutschen' when you mean a sweet, simple kiss could convey the wrong impression of the relationship's intensity.
- Reflexive Confusion
- Learners often forget the reflexive pronoun when describing a mutual action. 'Sie küssen' means 'they are kissing (something/someone else)', whereas 'Sie küssen sich' means 'they are kissing each other'.
Sie küssen sich (gegenseitig) leidenschaftlich.
Hast du ihn wirklich geküsst?
While küssen is the primary verb for kissing, German offers several synonyms and related terms that carry different weights and contexts. Understanding these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to describe various levels of affection more accurately.
- Knutschen
- This is an informal, often more intense version of küssen. It is equivalent to 'making out' or 'necking'. It’s commonly used by teenagers or to describe a couple that is being very physically affectionate in public.
Die Teenager knutschen auf der Parkbank.
Another frequent term is busseln. This is primarily used in Southern Germany and Austria. It refers to light, sweet kissing, often on the cheek. A 'Bussi' is a small, quick kiss. It’s much more casual and often used among friends or family members as a greeting or a sign of platonic affection.
- Schmusen
- While 'schmusen' primarily means 'to cuddle' or 'to snuggle', it often implies kissing as part of the cuddling process. It is a very soft, affectionate word often used for children, pets, or partners in a cozy setting.
Sie schmusen den ganzen Abend auf dem Sofa.
In a more formal or literary context, you might see benetzen (to moisten/wet) used metaphorically for a light kiss, or huldigen (to pay homage) which might involve a hand-kiss. However, these are rare in modern speech. On the opposite end of the spectrum, abknutschen is a somewhat aggressive way to say 'to kiss all over' or 'to smother with kisses'.
- Comparison Table
-
- Küssen: Neutral, standard, can be romantic or familial.
- Knutschen: Informal, intense, 'making out'.
- Busseln: Regional (South), casual, 'pecking'.
- Schmusen: Affectionate, involves cuddling.
Oma will das Baby immer abknutschen.
Lass dich von der Sonne küssen.
Le savais-tu ?
In Old High German, the word was 'kussen', and it has remained remarkably stable in its form and meaning for over a thousand years. The vowel 'ü' developed through i-mutation from the original 'u'.
Guide de prononciation
- Pronouncing 'ü' as 'i' (sounds like Kissen/pillow).
- Pronouncing 'ü' as 'u' (sounds like kussen, which is not a word).
- Making the 'ss' sound like a 'z'.
Exemples par niveau
Ich küsse dich.
I kiss you.
Subject + Verb + Accusative object.
Küsst du mich?
Do you kiss me?
Question word order: Verb + Subject + Object.
Er küsst seine Mutter.
He kisses his mother.
'Seine Mutter' is the feminine accusative object.
Wir küssen uns.
We kiss each other.
Reflexive use indicating mutual action.
Sie küsst den Hund.
She kisses the dog.
'Den Hund' is masculine accusative.
Küss mich!
Kiss me!
Imperative singular form.
Ihr küsst eure Kinder.
You (plural) kiss your children.
'Eure Kinder' is plural accusative.
Küsst er sie?
Is he kissing her?
Verb-first question structure.
Er hat sie gestern geküsst.
He kissed her yesterday.
Perfekt tense with 'haben' and 'geküsst'.
Sie küsste ihn auf die Wange.
She kissed him on the cheek.
'Auf' + accusative for the target of the kiss.
Wir haben uns zum ersten Mal geküsst.
We kissed for the first time.
Reflexive Perfekt with 'uns'.
Warum hast du mich nicht geküsst?
Why didn't you kiss me?
Negative in the Perfekt tense.
Sie wollte ihn im Kino küssen.
She wanted to kiss him in the cinema.
Modal verb 'wollte' + infinitive 'küssen'.
Küsst euch endlich!
Kiss each other finally!
Imperative plural reflexive.
Er hat das Baby auf die Stirn geküsst.
He kissed the baby on the forehead.
Specific body part with 'auf'.
Ich habe noch nie jemanden geküsst.
I have never kissed anyone.
Use of 'noch nie' with Perfekt.
Ich erinnere mich an den Tag, als wir uns das erste Mal küssten.
I remember the day when we kissed for the first time.
Präteritum in a subordinate clause.
Sie schloss die Augen und wartete darauf, dass er sie küsst.
She closed her eyes and waited for him to kiss her.
Subordinate clause with 'dass'.
Es ist schön, von jemandem geküsst zu werden, den man liebt.
It is nice to be kissed by someone you love.
Passive infinitive construction.
Bevor er ging, küsste er sie flüchtig.
Before he left, he kissed her briefly.
Adverb 'flüchtig' modifying the verb.
Sie haben sich die ganze Nacht lang geküsst.
They kissed each other all night long.
Duration expressed with 'die ganze Nacht lang'.
Ich wusste nicht, ob ich sie küssen sollte.
I didn't know if I should kiss her.
Indirect question with 'ob' and modal verb.
Er küsst sie immer, wenn er nach Hause kommt.
He always kisses her when he comes home.
Temporal clause with 'wenn'.
Sie küssten sich, als wäre es das letzte Mal.
They kissed as if it were the last time.
Comparison with 'als wäre'.
Der Prinz musste die Prinzessin wachküssen.
The prince had to kiss the princess awake.
Compound verb 'wachküssen'.
Sie fühlte sich, als hätte sie das Glück geküsst.
She felt as if luck had kissed her.
Metaphorical use with Konjunktiv II.
Nach dem Sieg küssten die Spieler den Pokal.
After the victory, the players kissed the trophy.
Object 'den Pokal' in accusative.
Es ist unhöflich, jemanden ohne Erlaubnis zu küssen.
It is impolite to kiss someone without permission.
Infinitiv mit 'zu' construction.
Die Sonne küsste sanft ihre Haut.
The sun gently kissed her skin.
Personification of the sun.
Er hat versucht, sie zu küssen, aber sie hat sich weggedreht.
He tried to kiss her, but she turned away.
'Versuchen' + 'zu' + infinitive.
Man sagt, dass die Muse ihn beim Schreiben geküsst hat.
They say the muse kissed him while he was writing.
Metaphorical idiom 'die Muse küssen'.
Sie küssten sich leidenschaftlich vor den Augen aller.
They kissed passionately in front of everyone's eyes.
Adverb 'leidenschaftlich' and prepositional phrase.
In seinem neuesten Roman beschreibt er, wie die Wellen den Strand küssen.
In his latest novel, he describes how the waves kiss the beach.
Poetic personification in a subordinate clause.
Das Brautpaar wurde dazu aufgefordert, sich vor der versammelten Menge zu küssen.
The bridal couple was asked to kiss in front of the assembled crowd.
Passive voice with 'dazu aufgefordert'.
Oftmals küssen sich Politiker nur aus protokollarischen Gründen auf die Wangen.
Often, politicians kiss each other on the cheeks only for reasons of protocol.
Reflexive use with 'aus Gründen'.
Er küsste ihre Hand mit einer Galanterie, die heute selten geworden ist.
He kissed her hand with a gallantry that has become rare today.
Noun 'Galanterie' and relative clause.
Die Freiheit scheint jene zu küssen, die mutig genug sind, sie zu suchen.
Freedom seems to kiss those who are brave enough to seek it.
Abstract metaphorical use.
Nach Jahren der Trennung küssten sie sich mit einer Intensität, die alle Worte überflüssig machte.
After years of separation, they kissed with an intensity that made all words superfluous.
Complex sentence with causal implication.
Es war, als ob der Tod ihn bereits auf die Stirn geküsst hätte.
It was as if death had already kissed him on the forehead.
Dark metaphorical use with Konjunktiv II.
Sie küsste das Medaillon, das ihr einziges Andenken an ihn war.
She kissed the locket, which was her only memory of him.
Symbolic action with an object.
Die dämmernde Morgenröte schien die schlafende Stadt wachzuküssen.
The dawning aurora seemed to kiss the sleeping city awake.
Poetic compound 'wachzuküssen' in an infinitive phrase.
In der Literatur des Sturm und Drang wird das Küssen oft als Ausdruck tiefster Seelenverwandtschaft stilisiert.
In the literature of Sturm und Drang, kissing is often stylized as an expression of the deepest soul kinship.
Academic passive construction.
Er fühlte sich vom Schicksal geküsst, als er die Nachricht erhielt.
He felt kissed by fate when he received the news.
Idiomatic passive 'vom Schicksal geküsst'.
Das sanfte Rauschen des Windes küsste die Blätter der alten Eiche.
The gentle rustling of the wind kissed the leaves of the old oak.
Sophisticated personification.
Sie küsste die Reliquie mit einer Inbrunst, die die Umstehenden tief bewegte.
She kissed the relic with a fervor that deeply moved those standing around.
Advanced vocabulary like 'Inbrunst' and 'Reliquie'.
Man könnte fast meinen, die Architektur küsse hier den Himmel.
One could almost think the architecture kisses the sky here.
Metaphorical use for height and beauty.
Seine Worte waren wie Küsse, die ihre Seele heilten.
His words were like kisses that healed her soul.
Simile comparing words to kisses.
Die geschichtsträchtige Mauer zu küssen, war für ihn ein Akt der Befreiung.
Kissing the history-laden wall was an act of liberation for him.
Substantivized infinitive as a subject.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— A polite way to ask for a kiss.
Er fragte schüchtern: 'Darf ich dich küssen?'
— Expressing the desire to kiss someone.
Ich möchte dich schon den ganzen Abend küssen.
— An affectionate exclamation before kissing someone.
'Komm her und lass dich küssen!', sagte die Tante.
— Stating that two people kissed.
Hast du gehört? Sie haben sich gestern geküsst!
— A proverb meaning a kiss is very expressive.
Sie sprachen nicht, denn ein Kuss sagt mehr als tausend Worte.
— A very traditional, formal Austrian greeting.
'Küss die Hand, gnädige Frau', sagte der Kellner.
— Having many people or things to kiss (often said to babies).
Hier gibt es viel zu küssen!
— A warning not to kiss (e.g., due to illness).
Ich habe eine Erkältung, also bitte nicht küssen.
— Describing the cheek-kissing greeting ritual.
In Paris gibt es immer Küsschen links, Küsschen rechts.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To have a sudden creative inspiration.
Wenn mich die Muse küsst, schreibe ich ein Gedicht.
literary— To fall face-first or show extreme humility.
Er stolperte und küsste den Boden.
neutral— To awaken something (or someone) that was dormant.
Die Frühlingssonne küsst die Blumen wach.
metaphorical— A formal greeting, often ironic nowadays.
Küss die Hand, Frau Nachbarin!
archaic/ironic— (Sports) When a ball hits the goalpost.
Der Schuss küsste nur den Pfosten.
informal— To look very attractive or 'adorable'.
Du siehst heute zum Küssen aus!
informal— To be extremely subservient or grateful.
Ich könnte dir die Füße küssen für deine Hilfe!
informal— (Rare) To kiss excessively.
Sie haben sich den ganzen Abend grün und blau geküsst.
slang— A kiss that makes one forget everything else.
Es war wie ein Kuss der Vergessenheit.
poeticFamille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of the 'ü' in 'küssen' as two people standing together (the dots) over a pair of rounded lips (the 'u').
Association visuelle
Imagine a pair of bright red lips touching a 'ü' with two hearts above it.
Word Web
Défi
Try to say 'Ich küsse das Kissen' (I kiss the pillow) five times fast to master the 'ü' vs 'i' distinction.
Origine du mot
Derived from the Proto-Germanic verb *kussijaną. It is related to the Old High German 'kussen'.
Sens originel : To touch with the lips, likely imitative of the sound made when kissing.
Germanic (related to English 'kiss', Dutch 'kussen', Swedish 'kyssa').Contexte culturel
In English-speaking countries, 'to kiss' is used similarly, but the social 'cheek kiss' is often less standardized than in parts of Germany.
Summary
The verb 'küssen' is the essential way to express kissing in German. Remember it takes the accusative: 'Ich küsse dich' (I kiss you).
- Standard German verb for 'to kiss'.
- Regular (weak) verb conjugation.
- Requires the Accusative case for the object.
- Used romantically, socially, and metaphorically.
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abgeneigt
B1Ne pas aimer quelque chose ou vouloir l'éviter.
ablehnend
B1Ça montre que tu n'approuves pas quelque chose ou quelqu'un, comme si tu le repoussais.
abneigen
B1Avoir de l'aversion pour quelque chose ou quelqu'un.
Abneigung
B1L'Abneigung signifie une forte aversion ou un dégoût envers quelque chose ou quelqu'un. C'est une répugnance profonde. Il existe une certaine Abneigung contre les changements soudains dans l'entreprise.
Abscheu
B1C'est un très fort sentiment de dégoût ou d'aversion.
abscheuen
B1Détester quelque chose ou quelqu'un très fort, avec un profond dégoût.
Ach!
A1Ah ! C'est magnifique. / Ah bon, je ne savais pas.
ach
A2Oh, ah ; exprime diverses émotions comme la surprise, la compréhension ou le regret.
akzeptierend
B1accepting
Albtraum
A2Un cauchemar; un rêve effrayant ou une situation réelle très pénible. 'J'ai fait un cauchemar cette nuit' se dit 'Ich hatte letzte Nacht einen Albtraum'.
