krakeln
/ˈkʁaːkəln/
To scribble in German is to krakeln. Wiktionary also lists schmieren and kritzeln.
Meaning: to write or draw carelessly and in a hurry (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| krakeln | /ˈkʁaːkəln/ |
| schmieren | /ˈʃmiːʁən/ /ˈʃmiːɐ̯n/ (Germany) |
| kritzeln | /ˈkʁɪtsl̩n/ /ˈkʁɪtsəln/ |
All three forms describe the act of writing or drawing carelessly and in a hurry.
Which one should you use?
The forms vary based on the nuance of the action: kritzeln is the most neutral and common way to say 'to scribble', often used for a child's drawings or messy handwriting. krakeln is more colloquial and often implies a very rough, scratchy or poorly executed motion, similar to 'scrawling'. schmieren is used when the scribbling is so messy that it looks like a smear or a smudge, often used disparagingly about bad handwriting.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Kritzelei refers to the act or the result of scribbling, often used to describe a piece of messy writing or a doodle.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkʁaːkəln/
Did you know?
- The word schmieren is rooted in the word for 'fat', reflecting the idea of something slippery or smudged.
Examples in context
- In ihrer Freizeit malte sie gerne und kritzelte oft Zeichnungen auf Papier.In her free time, she enjoyed painting and often scribbled drawings on paper.
- Das Kind wollte nur etwas auf das Papier krakeln.The child just wanted to scribble something on the paper.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scribble” translations and entries krakeln, schmieren, kritzeln, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries krakeln, kritzeln, schmieren, CC BY-SA 4.0.
