What does “lüften” mean in German?

Germans don’t just open a window now and then — they lüften, air the place out, as a fixed part of the day. This clip’s routine starts with it: all windows open, first thing in the morning. Fresh air is treated almost as a duty; proper airing is even written into many German rental contracts, because it prevents mold. Learn this one verb and you understand a whole household culture.

The serious version is Stoßlüften — windows fully open for a few minutes, several times a day — as opposed to just leaving them tilted (kippen). The clip walks through the vocabulary around the ritual: sich aus dem Fenster lehnen (lean out the window), frische Luft schnappen (grab some fresh air), and das Fensterbrett or die Fensterbank for the windowsill — both are correct, and Germans happily use either.