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When a Simple Verb Gets Complicated

In German, lecken simply means to lick — an everyday, even innocent verb.
But like many words in real life, it has a second, much less innocent meaning.

So when you hear lecken, context is everything.

Neutral Meaning

lecken — to lick (as in ice cream, stamps, or wounds).

• Der Hund leckt meine Hand. — The dog is licking my hand.
• Das Kind leckt das Eis. — The child is licking the ice cream.

Perfectly neutral. Until it isn’t.

Slang and Sexual Meaning

In slang, lecken also means to perform oral sex — and it’s widely recognized in that sense.
Because of this, the word often triggers a double-take or a smile when used in ambiguous situations.

It’s not that Germans are prudish — it’s that words live double lives.

Everyday Risks (and Laughs)

Imagine saying this in the wrong moment:

• Ich will dein Eis lecken! — “I want to lick your ice cream!” 🍦
  Depending on the tone, this can sound either cute or… way too flirty.

Native speakers instinctively feel the tone difference; learners don’t always.

Safer Alternatives

If you want to avoid the eyebrow raise:

• Eis essen — to eat ice cream.
• ablecken — to lick off (still potentially funny).
• schlecken — softer, regional, more childlike (used for ice cream).

So, when in doubt — schlecken das Eis is your safest choice.

Cross-Language Echoes

• English: “lick” — same ambiguity, same risks.
• French: lécher — can also mean “to flatter” (lécher les bottes = lick someone’s boots).
• Russian: «лизать» — literal only, slang form is different.
• Ukrainian: «лизати» — same: neutral unless context changes.

Cultural Lesson

The word lecken teaches what every learner eventually discovers:
Language is not just vocabulary — it’s culture, tone, and timing.
A sentence that’s innocent on paper can sound completely different in life.

Conclusion

In German, lecken lives two lives — one in the kitchen, one in the bedroom.
Know your context, choose your register, and you’ll never sound funny by accident.
And if you do — at least you’ll have learned something memorable. 😉

🔗 Related articles

• Blasen: From Blowing to Slang in German
• Ficken: From Hitting to Swearing in German
• Ich komme gleich: When “I’m Coming Soon” Means More Than You Think

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