Polyglot Dictionary

lächeln

/ˈlɛçl̩n/

verb A2

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Core Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

present (3rd sg.)
lächelt
past
lächelte
perfect
hat gelächelt

Meaning

  1. to smile

    Contrasts with lachen (to laugh out loud) — lächeln is the quieter, closed-mouth expression.

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Intransitive

Similar words

lachen

lächeln is a quiet smile; lachen is laughing out loud.

grinsen

lächeln is a warm, ordinary smile; grinsen is a wider grin, often mischievous or knowing.

Similar in other languages

Portuguese

sorrir

sorrir is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to smile."

Practice

1 What does lächeln mean?

2 Fill the gap: Sie ___ ihm freundlich zu.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches lächeln?

verb

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