kreischen
to scream
To let out a very high, loud, and often shrill cry, usually from excitement, fear, or pain.
EXAMPLE
Die Fans kreischten, als die Band endlich auf die Bühne kam.
The fans screamed when the band finally came on stage.
kreischen
to screech / scream
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Meanings
kreischen
to screech
To produce a high-pitched, squealing, or scraping sound, such as the sound made by brakes, tires, or a poorly oiled door.
EXAMPLE
Die Bremsen des alten Autos kreischten bei jeder starken Bremsung.
The brakes of the old car screeched with every hard stop.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can tell whether a person or a thing 'kreischt' (screeches/screams) from the subject of the sentence. If people or animals are the subject, they let out a high-pitched cry. If the subject is an object, it produces a loud, squealing sound.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder kreischten vor Freude auf der Achterbahn.
The children screamed with joy on the roller coaster.
Use with emotions
When people 'kreischen' (scream), it often happens because of a strong emotion. This is frequently expressed with the preposition 'vor' + dative, for example 'vor Lachen kreischen' (to scream with laughter), 'vor Schreck kreischen' (to scream in fright), or 'vor Begeisterung kreischen' (to scream with excitement).
EXAMPLE
Er erzählte einen so guten Witz, dass wir alle vor Lachen kreischten.
He told such a good joke that we all screamed with laughter.
Typical sound sources
When describing sounds, 'kreischen' (to screech) is typically used for mechanical or friction noises. Common subjects are 'Bremsen' (brakes), 'Reifen' (tires), 'eine Säge' (a saw), 'eine Tür' (a door), or 'Möwen' (seagulls).
EXAMPLE
Die alte Gartentür kreischt bei jeder Bewegung.
The old garden gate screeches with every movement.
Compare with
kreischen vs schreien
to scream
Schreien and kreischen can both refer to producing a loud sound out of fear or pain. Kreischen, however, emphasizes a very high and shrill pitch, while schreien generally describes a loud cry of pain or fear. For a shrill sound, kreischen is therefore more precise; otherwise, schreien is usually the better choice.
kreischen
Das Kind kreischte schrill vor Schmerz, als es vom Fahrrad fiel.
The child let out a high-pitched scream of pain when they fell off the bicycle.
schreien
Das Kind schrie vor Schmerz, als es vom Fahrrad fiel.
The child screamed in pain when they fell off the bicycle.
In real life
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