Schrei
/ʃʁaɪ̯/masculine
The English phrase 'hoot' can be translated into German as Schrei or Ruf.
Meaning: cry of an owl (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schrei | /ʃʁaɪ̯/ | masculine |
| Ruf | /ʁuːf/ | masculine |
When referring to the cry of an owl, both Schrei and Ruf are used to describe the sound made by the bird. Relatedly, the verb rufen means to make the cry of an owl, while the verb johlen is used to describe the act of assailing someone with contemptuous cries or shouts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both Schrei and Ruf are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃʁaɪ̯/
Did you know?
- The word Ruf can refer to a bird's hoot, but it also means a person's 'reputation' in German.
- While Schrei translates to 'hoot' in the context of an owl, it is most commonly used for a human 'scream' or 'shriek'.
- The word Schrei is a cognate of the Hunsrik word Schreu.
Examples in context
- Ein Spaziergänger hörte den Schrei des Kauzes in der Ferne.A walker heard the hoot of an owl in the distance.
- Der kleine Junge machte den Kauz nach und rief 'tuu, tuu'.The little boy imitated the owl, hooting 'tuu, tuu'.
- Ich höre einen Kauz 'hu' rufen.I hear an owl hooting 'hu'.
- Der Kauz rief laut 'huhu' und sorgte für Aufmerksamkeit.The owl hooted loudly with a 'huhu' sound, capturing attention.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are walking through a forest at night.
- MaximilianHörst du das, Julia?Do you hear that, Julia?
- JuliaJa, das ist der Schrei einer Eule.Yes, that is the hoot of an owl.
- MaximilianWo sitzt die Eule gerade?Where is the owl sitting right now?
- JuliaIch glaube, sie ist oben im Baum.I think it is up in the tree.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hoot” translations and entries Schrei, Ruf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ruf, Schrei, CC BY-SA 4.0.
