köcheln

to simmer

verb KUE-kheln Less Common

Origin: diminutive of kochen

Usage Note

köcheln is to simmer gently, the soft sibling of kochen (to boil); regular, participle geköchelt. Often vor sich hin köcheln, of a pot bubbling away on low heat.

Examples

"Lass die Soße bei kleiner Hitze köcheln."

Natural Translation

Let the sauce simmer over low heat.

Literal Translation

Let the sauce at small heat simmer.

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