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sich necken
/zɪç ˈnɛkn̩/
to tease someone playfully
Die Kinder necken sich immer beim Spielen.
The children always tease each other while playing.
informal
To tease or joke with someone in a friendly, playful manner, often to provoke a reaction or create a lighthearted atmosphere.
Wir haben uns gestern Abend beim Essen geneckt.
We teased each other playfully while eating last night.
Er neckt seine Schwester oft, aber sie nimmt es nicht ernst.
He often teases his sister, but she doesn't take it seriously.
This phrase is commonly used among friends and family to describe lighthearted teasing. It does not imply malice or serious conflict.
Collocations
sich gegenseitig neckento tease each othermit jemandem neckento tease someone
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Always ensure the context is lighthearted, as 'sich necken' implies friendly teasing, not bullying or harassment.
Gold Rule
Reflexive Use
The reflexive form 'sich necken' is most common, indicating mutual teasing. Non-reflexive use (e.g., 'jemanden necken') is also possible but less frequent.
Word Origin
The verb 'necken' comes from Middle High German 'necken,' meaning to tease or mock. The reflexive form 'sich necken' emphasizes mutual or self-directed teasing.
Usage Notes
This phrase is typically used in informal contexts and implies a friendly, non-malicious interaction. It can be used both reflexively (mutual teasing) and non-reflexively (teasing someone else).
Word Breakdown
sich
reflexive pronoun (oneself)
pronounnecken
to tease or joke with
verbDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch