Meaning
To clean floors or carpets using a vacuum cleaner.
Cultural Background
Vacuuming is often restricted on Sundays due to 'Ruhezeit' (quiet time) laws. Similar to Germany, household chores are taken seriously and vacuuming is a standard weekend task. Swiss households are known for being very tidy; vacuuming is a frequent activity. The 'Staubsauger' is a common household appliance in all German-speaking countries.
Separable Verb
Remember that 'Staub saugen' is a separable phrase. In a sentence, 'saugen' moves to the second position.
Quiet Time
Don't vacuum on Sundays in Germany; it's considered rude due to quiet time laws.
Meaning
To clean floors or carpets using a vacuum cleaner.
Separable Verb
Remember that 'Staub saugen' is a separable phrase. In a sentence, 'saugen' moves to the second position.
Quiet Time
Don't vacuum on Sundays in Germany; it's considered rude due to quiet time laws.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form.
Ich muss heute ________ ________.
The infinitive is needed after 'muss'.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the correct sentence.
Fixed collocation, no article needed.
Match the verb to its meaning.
Match: Staub saugen
Staub saugen is the German term for vacuuming.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hast du schon ________? B: Ja, ich bin fertig.
Perfect tense requires the participle 'gesaugt'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIch muss heute ________ ________.
The infinitive is needed after 'muss'.
Choose the correct sentence.
Fixed collocation, no article needed.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Staub saugen is the German term for vacuuming.
A: Hast du schon ________? B: Ja, ich bin fertig.
Perfect tense requires the participle 'gesaugt'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, that is perfectly fine and very common.
Yes, it is accepted as a single verb in modern German.
Ich habe Staub gesaugt.
Only if you do it at night or on Sundays.
Then you use 'fegen'.
Because it's the dust you are removing.
No, only for floors/carpets.
It is neutral.
Der Staubsauger.
No, it's a fixed phrase.
Related Phrases
den Boden wischen
similarto mop the floor
fegen
contrastto sweep
aufräumen
builds onto tidy up
putzen
builds onto clean
