verb

motzen

grumble

Definition & meaning

Motzen is an informal verb meaning to complain, grumble, or whine, usually in an irritated or dissatisfied way. It can also mean to speak sharply or rudely to someone, especially in the construction jemanden anmotzen.

The word often sounds disapproving: it suggests that someone is complaining in an annoying or unjustified way.

Er motzt über das Essen. — “He grumbles about the food.”
Sie motzte ihn an. — “She snapped at him.”

Grammar & Word origin

Motzen is a regular, non-separable verb. It is commonly used with über (“about”) to name what someone is complaining about. In the sense of speaking rudely to someone, it can appear as the separable-prefix verb anmotzen.

Present: ich motze , du motzt
Simple past: motzte
Perfect: hat gemotzt

The word is colloquial and expressive. Its precise origin is uncertain; it is often understood as an expressive or sound-imitative formation.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

meckern — to grumble or complain; very close in meaning and also informal.
nörgeln — to complain persistently, often about small things.
jammern — to lament or complain in a more plaintive, self-pitying way.
anmeckern — to criticize or complain at someone; like anmotzen, it is directed at a person, but can sound less sharp.

Antonyms

There is no exact single-word antonym. Depending on the context, loben (“to praise”) is the opposite of criticizing someone, while zufrieden sein (“to be satisfied”) is the opposite of grumbling.