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kokettieren

to flirt, to coquette

verb ko-ke-TSEE-ren Rare
Communication Speech

Origin: from French 'coqueter'

Also means

to make a show of a quality

Usage Note

kokettieren describes playfully drawing attention to oneself through words or manner. It can also mean making a pretence of a quality: 'Er kokettiert mit seiner Bescheidenheit' (He makes a show of his modesty). The word covers both genuine flirtation and rhetorical posturing.

Examples

"Sie kokettierte charmant mit dem Gesprächspartner und entwaffnete ihn mit einem Lächeln."

Natural Translation

She flirted charmingly with her conversation partner and disarmed him with a smile.

Literal Translation

She flirted charmingly with the conversation-partner and disarmed him with a smile.

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