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
Comes from the noun 'der Witz' (joke, wit). The '-eln' ending turns it into a verb, often with a sense of repeated action.
Memory Tips
If you know 'Witz' is a joke, then 'witzeln' is the action of making jokes.