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Writer's pictureKatarina Ristic

Word of the week: knirschen

knirschen

verb: to crunch/grind


This verb is used to mean ‘to make a hard, grinding sound’. This can be used to refer to snow/sand/gravel crunching underfoot, and can refer to the sound of brakes too. In a figurative sense, it can be used to refer to grinding one’s teeth in anger for instance.

  • Wir wandern und hören das Knirschen des Schnees während wir die bedeckte Wälder, Bergen und Seen entdecken = We hike and listen to the crunching of the snow as we explore the covered forests, mountains, and lakes.

  • Ich knirsche beim Schlafen mit den Zähnen = I grind my teeth when I am sleeping.

Austrian (dialectal difference): knarschen [for snow crunching underfoot]


Two people hiking in the snow. Photo: Hans Braxmeier via Pixabay

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