witzeln
Translation
to joke, to jest, to wisecrack
Examples
Er witzelt gern über alles.
He likes to joke about everything.
Hör auf zu witzeln, das ist ernst.
Stop joking, this is serious.
Grammar Patterns
((über+4)) to joke about sth. They are joking about the new movie.
Similar Words
Synonyms: scherzen (to joke), spaßen (to jest); Antonyms: ernst sein (to be serious)
Etymology
Derived from 'der Witz' (joke). The '-eln' suffix often indicates a repeated or diminutive action, so it means 'to make little jokes'.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone telling one 'Witz' (joke) after another. That's 'witzeln'.