to giggle
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to giggle
To laugh quietly, in a suppressed way, and often in a high voice. It usually expresses amusement, embarrassment, or even gloating.
Die beiden Mädchen kicherten während des Unterrichts über einen Zettel, den sie sich zuschoben.
The two girls giggled during class about a note they were passing back and forth.
The word 'kichern' (to giggle) is onomatopoeic. The sound of the word, especially the syllable 'ki-ki', imitates the quiet, high-pitched sound of giggling itself.
Man hörte die Kinder im Nebenzimmer leise kichern.
You could hear the children giggling quietly in the next room.
To state the reason for the giggling, you use the preposition 'über' (about/at) with the accusative.
Die Schüler kicherten über den Witz des Lehrers.
The students giggled at the teacher's joke.
'Kichern' (to giggle) is often combined with adverbs that describe the type of laughter, for example 'leise kichern' (to giggle quietly), 'verlegen kichern' (to giggle awkwardly), or 'in sich hinein kichern' (to giggle to oneself).
Als er das Kompliment bekam, musste er verlegen kichern.
When he received the compliment, he had to giggle awkwardly.
to laugh
'lachen' and 'kichern' are both connected with joy or amusement. 'lachen' is the general word and can be loud, open, or just brief. 'kichern' means laughing quietly, often in a somewhat suppressed way, for example out of embarrassment, secrecy, or gloating. If someone is laughing freely and clearly, 'lachen' fits better. If someone is trying not to laugh properly out loud, 'kichern' sounds more natural.
Im Bus kicherten die Kinder, weil sie ein Geheimnis hatten.
The children giggled on the bus because they had a secret.
Nach dem Witz lachte die ganze Familie laut.
After the joke, the whole family laughed loudly.