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All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| drucken | Documents, pictures and printed products | Regular, nonseparable: druckt, druckte, hat gedruckt. | |
| drücken | press; push; squeeze | Buttons, handles, pressure and physical contact | Regular, nonseparable: drückt, drückte, hat gedrückt. |
Meaning and usage: Drucken describes producing words or images in print. It is useful for an office printer and for professional printing. A document or image is the object; a phrase can add how or where it will be printed. You can also use the verb without naming the object when the context supplies it. Printing an application is different from pressing a control to start it.
Grammar: Regular, nonseparable: druckt, druckte, hat gedruckt. Accusative object; optional phrases such as in Farbe or auf Papier describe the result.
Bitte drucke das Formular auf beiden Seiten.
Please print the form on both sides.
Der Kopierer druckt heute sehr langsam.
The copier is printing very slowly today.
drücken
Meaning and usage: Drücken describes applying pressure. You can press a button, push a handle down or squeeze someone’s hand. It also has figurative and reflexive uses, including avoiding an obligation. Those additional uses do not change the key distinction from printing. In a doorway instruction, drücken contrasts with ziehen: push rather than pull. Follow the specific object and situation.
Grammar: Regular, nonseparable: drückt, drückte, hat gedrückt. Einen Knopf drücken takes accusative; auf einen Knopf drücken uses auf + accusative. Sich vor etwas drücken uses a reflexive accusative pronoun and vor + dative.
Drücke den grünen Knopf neben dem Bildschirm.
Press the green button beside the screen.
Der neue Schuh drückt am linken Fuß.
The new shoe pinches my left foot.
Overlap and context
Operating a printer may involve both actions: first press a button, then print a page. German keeps their names distinct. Their pronunciation also differs: u in drucken and ü in drücken are separate vowel sounds. Do not represent ü merely as an optional written decoration.
Common mistakes
- Er druckt den Knopf means that he prints the button, an unusual claim. Use drückt for pressing it.
- Replacing ü with u is not a harmless spelling shortcut. If needed, the established written substitution is ue: druecken.
- Do not assume every drücken sentence has a person deliberately pushing. A tight shoe can drücken because it exerts uncomfortable pressure.
Memory aid: Think of two stages: drücken the control, drucken the page. Keep the umlaut with the pressure action.
Try it
Complete: Ich möchte die Rechnung ___. Dazu ___ ich diese Taste.
Show the answer
drucken; drücke
The invoice is printed, while the key is pressed. Ich requires the present-tense form drücke.