Schauen vs. Sehen vs. Gucken: to look, to see, to watch
The German verbs schauen, sehen, and gucken all relate to the concept of vision or looking, but they have different shades of meaning, levels of formality, and common contexts. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right verb for the situation.
- sehen — to see (neutral, most general)
- schauen — to look (more intentional), to watch
- gucken — to look, to peek (colloquial)
Key Differences
| Verb | Primary Meaning | Connotation | Formality | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sehen | to see (perceive) | neutral, passive | standard | Ich sehe den Hund. (I see the dog.) |
| schauen | to look, to watch (intentional) | more active | standard/literary | Schau mal! (Look!) |
| gucken | to look, to peek | colloquial, informal | informal | Ich gucke Fernsehen. (I’m watching TV.) |
Which German verb is a colloquial, informal synonym for 'schauen', commonly used in spoken German?
gucken
The verb **gucken** is a more casual, colloquial alternative to **schauen**, mainly used in spoken German. It carries the same basic meaning of 'to look' or 'to peek' but is less formal.
Usage of sehen
sehen is the most general and neutral verb. It means “to see” in the sense of perceiving something with the eyes, whether intentionally or not. It can also mean “to meet” in certain contexts (e.g., Ich sehe dich morgen = “I’ll see you tomorrow”).
Most other vision-related German verbs are shades or special cases of sehen.
Examples
- Ich sehe den Vogel. (I see the bird.)
- Siehst du den Mann dort? (Do you see the man there?)
- Ich sehe dich morgen. (I’ll see you tomorrow.)
- Kannst du den Text sehen? (Can you see the text?)
Usage of schauen
schauen means “to look” or “to watch” — that is, to direct your gaze deliberately at something. It’s often used when someone is intentionally looking or paying attention. It can also appear in fixed expressions and be combined with other words (e.g., anschauen = to look at).
College textbooks often translate schauen as to look, but it sometimes carries a sense of watching or observing carefully.
Common Patterns
- schauen + auf + Akkusativ (look at): Schau auf die Uhr! (Look at the clock!)
- [jdm.] schauen (look at someone): Sie schaut mich an. (She looks at me.)
- Verbs with prefixes: anschauen, wegschauen (look away)
Examples
- Schau mal! (Look!)
- Er schaut aus dem Fenster. (He looks out the window.)
- Wir schauen einen Film. (We’re watching a movie.)
- Schau auf die Karte! (Look at the map!)
Wir __ einen Film.
schauen
The sentence means 'We’re watching a movie.' **schauen** is used here in the sense of 'watching' something intentionally.
Usage of gucken
gucken is a colloquial and somewhat regional synonym for schauen. It’s most common in spoken German (especially in northern and central Germany) and is less formal. It means “to look,” “to peek,” or “to watch,” often with a casual or brief connotation.
Avoid gucken in formal writing or speech; use schauen or sehen instead.
Examples
- Guck mal da! (Look over there!)
- Ich gucke abends Netflix. (I watch Netflix in the evenings.)
- Guckst du mich an? (Are you looking at me?)
- Guck mal schnell! (Take a quick look!)
Guckst du mich an?
Guckst
The sentence means 'Are you looking at me?' The colloquial **guckst** is a shortened form of **guckst du** (from **gucken**), used in informal speech.
Comparing Schauen, Sehen, and Gucken in Context
| German Sentence | English Translation | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sehe den Hund. | I see the dog. | Simple perception — just noticing the dog. |
| Ich schaue den Hund an. | I’m looking at the dog. | Deliberate action — directing gaze at the dog. |
| Ich gucke den Hund an. | I’m looking at the dog. | Same as above, but more informal/casual. |
| Wir schauen einen Film. | We’re watching a movie. | schauen used for “watching.” |
| Wir gucken einen Film. | We’re watching a movie. | Informal version of the above. |
| Siehst du das? | Do you see that? | General question of perception. |
| Schau mal! / Guck mal! | Look! / Take a look! | Both mean “Look!” — guck mal is more casual. |
Common Fixed Expressions and Phrases
| German Phrase | English Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Schau mal! | Look! | Very common colloquial phrase. |
| Guck mal! | Look! | More informal, casual. |
| Sieh mal! | Look! (more literary) | Less common in conversation; more formal/literary. |
| Fernsehen gucken | to watch TV | gucken is commonly used here. |
| Genau hinschauen | look closely | Used for careful observation. |
Summary
- Use sehen for neutral, general “seeing” or perceiving.
- Use schauen when someone is intentionally looking or watching something.
- Use gucken only in informal spoken contexts, meaning essentially the same as schauen.
Remember: context and tone matter. When in doubt, sehen is the safest, but it may not always convey intentional looking or watching.
If you’re unsure which verb to use, which one is the safest default?
sehen
**sehen** is the safest default because it’s neutral and always correct for the general meaning of 'seeing.' However, it might not convey intentional looking.
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- Explanation: Simple perception — just noticing the dog.
- English Translation: I see the dog.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
