verb
to look, to watch, to peek
B1
Gucken means 'to look', 'to watch' or 'to peek' and is a colloquial German verb used for observing or glancing. It’s a regular weak verb: Perfekt geguckt, auxiliary haben. Non‑reflexive and not separable. More informal than schauen or sehen and common in spoken German.
Examples
Wir gucken heute Abend einen Film.
We're watching a movie tonight.
Er guckt heimlich durch das Schlüsselloch, um zu sehen, was passiert.
He peeks through the keyhole to see what's happening.
Ich gucke aus dem Fenster.
I'm looking out the window.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone cupping a hand to their eyes and saying 'guck!' when they look.
Sounds like 'goo-ken' — imagine someone saying 'go look' quickly.
Notes
Colloquial synonym of sehen/watch in many contexts. Often interchangeable with 'schauen' in spoken German. Past participle: 'geguckt'.