knutschen
KNOOT-shen — the k is pronouncedverbInformal
A German slang term. Browse all German slang.
What it means
To snog, to make out. Enthusiastic and prolonged, as distinct from küssen, which covers everything from a peck upwards.
Rumknutschen adds the sense of doing it in public and at length; a Knutschfleck is a love bite.
Examples with translations
Die haben den halben Abend rumgeknutscht.
They were snogging for half the evening.
Du hast einen Knutschfleck am Hals.
You've got a love bite on your neck.
Where it comes from
Expressive in origin, from a family of knu- words suggesting squeezing and pressing (knautschen, to crumple; kneten, to knead). Not a borrowing — the sound is doing the work.
Other forms
- Similar terms:
- rumknutschen, fummeln