Drucken

Drucken is a German verb meaning to print, i.e., to transfer text or images onto paper or other materials using a printing device such as a printer or press. It is also used for producing copies for publication or distribution. The noun associated with the process is Druck, and the verb is related to drucken, which differs in meaning from the similar-sounding drucken (to push) in other languages, and from the related verb drucken in the sense of pressing physical objects.

Grammatical notes: The present tense forms are ich drucke, du druckst, er druckt, wir drucken, ihr druckt, sie drucken. The simple past is druckte; the past participle is gedruckt, used with haben (Ich habe gedruckt). The infinitive is drucken; ausdrucken means to print out a document from a computer.

Applications and terminology: In everyday and professional use, wird etwas gedruckt, for example ein Dokument oder ein Foto. In computing, "drucken" describes sending output to a printer, as in "Ich drucke das Dokument." The related noun Druck denotes both printing and pressure. Common devices are Drucker (printer), with specific types such as Tintenstrahldrucker (inkjet) and Laserdrucker (laser). Printing technologies include Offsetdruck, Digitaldruck, Siebdruck and Flexodruck, covering publishing, packaging and textile applications.

See also: Druck as a general term for printing and for physical pressure; related actions such as ausdrucken (to print out) and drucken in industrial contexts.