In 15 Seconds
- Means to vacuum the floor using a machine.
- Literally translates to 'dust sucking' in English.
- Avoid doing this on Sundays due to noise laws.
Meaning
This is the German word for vacuuming your floors. It literally describes the action of a machine 'sucking up dust' to keep your home tidy.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about weekend chores
Ich muss am Samstag unbedingt staubsaugen.
I absolutely have to vacuum on Saturday.
Asking a roommate for help
Könntest du heute bitte im Flur staubsaugen?
Could you please vacuum the hallway today?
Explaining a noise during a call
Entschuldigung, mein Nachbar staubsaugt gerade sehr laut.
Sorry, my neighbor is vacuuming very loudly right now.
Cultural Background
The 'Ruhezeit' is a serious matter. Most rental contracts forbid 'staubsaugen' on Sundays and between 1 PM and 3 PM (Mittagsruhe). Swiss apartment rules can be even stricter than German ones, sometimes specifying which days of the week you are allowed to use noisy appliances. In Austria, the term 'saugen' is very common, and the cultural emphasis on a 'sauberes Haus' (clean house) is very high. The rise of 'Saugroboter' (robot vacuums) has changed the language; people now talk about 'den Roboter fahren lassen' (letting the robot drive) instead of 'staubsaugen' themselves.
The 'Saugen' Shortcut
Natives almost always just say 'saugen'. 'Ich muss mal saugen' sounds much more natural than the full 'staubsaugen'.
Sunday Silence
Never vacuum on a Sunday in a German apartment building unless you want a lecture from your neighbors.
In 15 Seconds
- Means to vacuum the floor using a machine.
- Literally translates to 'dust sucking' in English.
- Avoid doing this on Sundays due to noise laws.
What It Means
Staubsaugen is how you describe cleaning your floors with a vacuum cleaner. It is a compound word. Staub means dust and saugen means to suck. It is a very direct and logical word. You use it whenever you are doing that noisy chore. It is a staple of German household vocabulary. Everyone knows it and most people have a love-hate relationship with it.
How To Use It
Using this word can be a little tricky for beginners. You can treat it as one word: ich staubsauge. Or you can split it: ich sauge Staub. Both are perfectly fine in modern German. If you use the past tense, you say ich habe staubgesaugt. Use it when you are talking about your weekend plans. Use it when you are asking your roommate to help out. It fits naturally in any conversation about chores or cleaning.
When To Use It
Use this when you are tidying up before a date. Mention it when you are explaining why you can't hear the phone. It is perfect for texting a partner to say the house is ready. You will hear it often in shared apartments (WGs). It is a standard part of any cleaning schedule. If there are crumbs on the rug, it is time to staubsaugen.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for sweeping with a broom. That is fegen or kehren. Do not use it for mopping either. That is wischen. Also, be careful with the timing. Never staubsaugen on a Sunday in Germany. It is a 'Ruhetag' (rest day). Your neighbors will not be happy with the noise. It is also not used for 'sucking up' liquids; that requires a special Nasssauger.
Cultural Background
Germans take their 'Ordnung' (order) very seriously. Cleanliness is often seen as a sign of a well-managed life. In some regions, there is a tradition called 'Kehrwoche'. This is a scheduled week where you clean the communal areas. Vacuuming is a big part of this routine. Because of strict noise laws, you usually shouldn't vacuum between 10 PM and 7 AM. Even Saturday afternoons are sometimes considered 'quiet time' in older buildings.
Common Variations
You might hear people just say saugen for short. For example, Ich muss noch saugen. If you have a robot vacuum, you call it a Saugroboter. Some people prefer the noun-verb split: Staub saugen. In casual speech, you might hear den Sauger schwingen (to swing the vacuum). This is a more playful way to describe the chore.
Usage Notes
The word is neutral and suitable for all situations. The main 'gotcha' is the conjugation; while 'staubgesaugt' is standard, you might occasionally hear 'staubgesogen' in older or regional contexts, though it sounds very outdated.
The 'Saugen' Shortcut
Natives almost always just say 'saugen'. 'Ich muss mal saugen' sounds much more natural than the full 'staubsaugen'.
Sunday Silence
Never vacuum on a Sunday in a German apartment building unless you want a lecture from your neighbors.
Besenrein
When you move out of an apartment, the contract often says it must be 'besenrein' (broom-clean). This includes a final 'staubsaugen'.
Compound Logic
If you forget the word, just remember 'Dust' + 'Suck'. It's one of the most logical compounds in German.
Examples
6Ich muss am Samstag unbedingt staubsaugen.
I absolutely have to vacuum on Saturday.
A standard way to express a planned chore.
Könntest du heute bitte im Flur staubsaugen?
Could you please vacuum the hallway today?
A polite request in a shared living situation.
Entschuldigung, mein Nachbar staubsaugt gerade sehr laut.
Sorry, my neighbor is vacuuming very loudly right now.
Used in a professional or formal phone call context.
Ich habe schon staubgesaugt, der Besuch kann kommen!
I've already vacuumed, the guests can come!
Using the past participle 'staubgesaugt'.
Mein Hund bellt immer, wenn ich staubsauge.
My dog always barks when I vacuum.
A relatable, humorous everyday situation.
Ich hasse es zu staubsaugen, es dauert so lange!
I hate vacuuming, it takes so long!
Expressing a personal feeling about the task.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'staubsaugen' in the present tense.
Jeden Samstag _______ ich mein ganzes Haus.
The first person singular ('ich') form of 'staubsaugen' is 'staubsauge'.
Which sentence is culturally correct in Germany?
Wann ist es am besten zu staubsaugen?
Sunday and late nights are 'Ruhezeit' (quiet hours) in Germany.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hast du das {das|n} Wohnzimmer schon sauber gemacht? B: Nein, ich muss noch _______.
After 'muss' (modal verb), we use the infinitive form.
Match the tool to the action.
Match the following:
Each cleaning tool has its specific verb in German.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Cleaning Verbs
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeden Samstag _______ ich mein ganzes Haus.
The first person singular ('ich') form of 'staubsaugen' is 'staubsauge'.
Wann ist es am besten zu staubsaugen?
Sunday and late nights are 'Ruhezeit' (quiet hours) in Germany.
A: Hast du das {das|n} Wohnzimmer schon sauber gemacht? B: Nein, ich muss noch _______.
After 'muss' (modal verb), we use the infinitive form.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each cleaning tool has its specific verb in German.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's a hybrid. In modern German, it's mostly treated as inseparable ('ich staubsauge'), but 'ich sauge Staub' is also correct.
No, that sounds like you are building or fixing it. Use 'Ich staubsauge' or 'Ich benutze den Staubsauger'.
The most common forms are 'ich staubsaugte' (Präteritum) and 'ich habe gestaubsaugt' (Perfekt).
Both are correct! 'Staubgesaugt' is more traditional, but 'gestaubsaugt' is very common today.
Yes! 'Das Auto staubsaugen' is the standard phrase for cleaning your car's interior.
Because of 'Sonntagsruhe' (Sunday rest), a law/tradition that protects people from loud noises on their day off.
Context. 'Saugen' can mean to suck anything (like a straw), but in a house, it always means vacuuming.
No, it's a verb. But the noun is {der|m} Staubsauger.
Not really, but 'durchsaugen' is the casual way to say you're doing a quick clean.
Only if you have a 'Nass-Trockensauger' (wet-dry vacuum). Otherwise, use 'aufwischen'.
Related Phrases
den Boden wischen
similarto mop the floor
Staub wischen
similarto dust (surfaces)
fegen
similarto sweep
reinigen
specialized formto clean
aufräumen
builds onto tidy up
