This is the 4569th most frequent German word.
schlucken
To swallow.
Here, 'schlucken' means to physically ingest something by swallowing, used in a medical or dietary context.
Ich kann diese große Pille nicht schlucken.
I cannot swallow this large pill.
In this case, 'schlucken' is used metaphorically to mean suppressing emotions or feelings, common in idiomatic expressions.
Er musste seinen Stolz schlucken und um Hilfe bitten.
He had to swallow his pride and ask for help.
Here, 'schlucken' refers to consuming or using resources such as electricity, often in a technical or operational context.