SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/de-ziehen

A German door has a sign saying 'Ziehen'. What should you do?

Ziehen means pull.

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  1. Push it
  2. Knock first
  3. Pull it ✔

Why: Ziehen means to pull. The opposite sign is Drücken, which means push. Keep both in mind and you will never bump into glass again.

Huh, didn't know that: Duden defines drücken as applying pressure to something, such as a button.

The dad joke
What did the German door say to the pushy visitor? Ziehen, please, I'm not that kind of door.
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References

Answer: Pull it. Ziehen means to pull. The opposite sign is Drücken, which means push. Keep both in mind and you will never bump into glass again.

  1. Wiktionary: ziehen en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ziehen
    to pull; to drag
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. Duden: drücken www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/druecken
    einen Druck (2a) auf etwas ausüben
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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