spülen
wash · rinse away
Mit Wasser reinigen, indem man Schmutz oder Essensreste entfernt.
The German word "spülen" is a verb that means "to rinse" or "to flush." It comes from the root "spül," which relates to the action of washing or cleaning with water. Common contexts for using "spülen" include washing dishes ("Geschirr spülen") or flushing a toilet.
Similar words in German include "waschen" (to wash), which often refers to a more general cleaning that may not involve merely rinsing, and "reinigen" (to clean), which can imply deeper cleaning than just rinsing or flushing. The key difference is that "spülen" specifically emphasizes rinsing or flushing with water, while "waschen" and "reinigen" can refer to broader cleaning actions.
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Examples
Du musst das Geschirr noch spülen.verb
You still have to wash the dishes.
Kannst du bitte die Teller spülen?verb
Can you please wash the plates?
Er muss das Geschirr spülen.verb
He has to wash the dishes.
Er muss noch schnell spülen, bevor die Gäste kommen.verb
He still has to quickly wash (the dishes) before the guests arrive.
Nach dem Essen haben wir alle Tassen gespült.verb
After the meal we washed all the cups.
Die Maschine spült das schmutzige Wasser weg.verb
The machine rinses away the dirty water.
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