Skip to content

blinzeln

to blink, squint

verb BLIN-tseln Rare

Usage Note

Blinzeln describes blinking the eyes — rapidly or slowly. In die Sonne blinzeln = to squint into the sun. Distinct from zwinkern (to wink deliberately with one eye).

Examples

"Sie blinzelte benommen, als das Licht anging."

Natural Translation

She blinked in confusion as the light came on.

Literal Translation

She blinked dazedly when the light came on.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore German by topic