schreckhaft
easily startled
Quick and easy to frighten; sensitive to sudden noises or movements.
EXAMPLE
Der schreckhafte Hund versteckte sich sofort, als es an der Tür klingelte.
The easily startled dog immediately hid when the doorbell rang.
schreckhaft
easily startled
schreckhaft – schreckhafter – am schreckhaftesten
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry schreckhaft, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | schreckhaft |
|---|---|
| comparative | schreckhafter |
| superlative | am schreckhaftesten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to schreckhaft.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to schreckhaft.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to schreckhaft.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Schreckhaft' (easily startled) is made up of 'Schreck' (fright) and the ending '-haft'. The ending describes a characteristic shaped by the root word.
EXAMPLE
Seine schreckhafte Katze reagiert auf jedes ungewohnte Geräusch.
His easily startled cat reacts to every unusual noise.
Typical collocations
'Schreckhaft' (easily startled) is particularly often used to describe animals or people in connection with sudden stimuli. Typical collocations are 'ein schreckhaftes Tier' (an easily startled animal), 'ein schreckhafter Hund' (an easily startled dog), and 'schreckhaft auf Geräusche reagieren' (to react nervously to noises).
EXAMPLE
Das schreckhafte Pferd wich dem plötzlich geöffneten Regenschirm aus.
The easily startled horse shied away from the suddenly opened umbrella.
Reactions to stimuli
'Schreckhaft' (easily startled) can be used with information about situations or causes, for example 'bei einem lauten Knall' (at a loud bang) or 'durch plötzliche Geräusche' (because of sudden noises). In the phrase 'auf Geräusche reagieren' (to react to noises), 'auf' is part of the verb 'reagieren' (to react).
EXAMPLE
Der schreckhafte Junge zuckte bei dem lauten Knall zusammen.
The easily startled boy jumped at the loud bang.
In real life
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