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Why This Word Surprises Learners

At first glance, blasen seems simple: it means to blow.

  • Der Wind bläst. — “The wind is blowing.”
  • Die Trompete blasen. — “To play the trumpet.”

But in German slang, blasen has another meaning: to perform oral sex.

This is where German shows its “double life”: an innocent verb in one context, and explicit slang in another.

Everyday Uses (Neutral)

  • Die Kerzen ausblasen. — “To blow out the candles.”
  • Ins Horn blasen. — “To blow into the horn.”
  • Der Sturm bläst stark. — “The storm is blowing hard.”

Here, blasen is completely neutral, part of daily vocabulary.

Slang Use (Explicit)

In colloquial German, blasen can mean to give a blowjob.
Example: Sie hat ihm einen geblasen. — literally “She blew him one,” understood as “She performed oral sex.”

It’s direct, often crude, and usually avoided in polite speech — but widely understood.

What Germans Actually Hear

  • Music / wind / candles: Nobody thinks of slang.
  • Colloquial jokes or sexual context: Instantly recognized as explicit.

This is why learners need to know the double meaning: without awareness, an innocent phrase might cause laughter.

Mini Dialogues

At a birthday party:
— Kannst du bitte die Kerzen ausblasen?
— “Can you blow out the candles?” 🎂 (Neutral)

Among teenagers joking:
— Er hat gesagt, sie bläst ihm…
— Giggles guaranteed. 🙈 (Slang)

Cross-Language Echoes

  • English: to blow also has sexual slang uses, especially in “blowjob.”
  • Russian: «дуть» само по себе нейтрально, но выражение «сделать минет» имеет тот же перенос.
  • Ukrainian: «дути» — нейтрально, але в сленгу також є «мінет» у значенні, пов’язаному з «blasen».

Conclusion

Blasen is a perfect example of German’s double coding.

  • Neutral in everyday life (wind, music, candles).
  • Explicit in slang (sexual context).

For learners, the survival tip is simple: context is everything. Use blasen freely when talking about wind or music — but be aware of its slang life, so you’re never caught off guard.

🔗 Related articles

Series: Words with a Double Life
👤 Author: Tymur Levitin — founder, director & lead teacher, Levitin Language School
© Tymur Levitin, Levitin Language School