zucken
Translation
to twitch, to jerk, to shrug, to flash
Examples
Sein Augenlid begann zu zucken.
His eyelid began to twitch.
Er zuckte nur mit den Schultern.
He just shrugged his shoulders.
Ein Blitz zuckte über den Himmel.
A flash of lightning shot across the sky.
Grammar Patterns
((with sth.)) to twitch/shrug (with sth.) He shrugged with his shoulders.
(intransitive) to twitch, flash His eyelid twitched.
Similar Words
zittern (to tremble), beben (to quake)
Etymology
From an old Germanic root meaning 'to pull quickly'. Unrelated to 'Zucker' (sugar).
Memory Tips
Imagine someone twitching after eating too much sugar (Zucker) - a funny but false connection to help remember.