Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gequieke | neuter | |
| Gequietsche | neuter | |
| Piepsen | [ˈpiːpsn̩] (narrow) | neuter |
In German, several words can represent a short, high-pitched sound. Gequieke is used for the characteristic sounds of small animals. Piepsen is an informal term for high-pitched sounds made by animals, toys or small objects, but it often refers to more continuous or rhythmic sounds like an electronic beep or a bird chirping, rather than a sound caused by friction.
What does it mean word for word?
In Gequieke, the prefix ge- and the suffix -e indicate a noun formed from a verbal root that describes a repetitive or characteristic sound, often associated with small animals.
Which one should you use?
While Gequieke and Gequietsche describe a squeak, Piepsen is used for rhythmic high-pitched sounds like chirping or beeping rather than a friction-based squeak.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All the provided nouns, Gequieke, Gequietsche and Piepsen, are neuter. If you wish to describe the action of making the sound, you can use the verbs knarren, piepsen or quietschen. The verb quietschen is the most common way to describe the action of making a squeaking sound through friction.
Did you know?
- If you use quietschen to describe a smartphone notification, it sounds as if the device were being physically squeezed or rubbed to produce the noise.
- In German, the term quietschen is frequently used metaphorically to describe a person's voice when it becomes high-pitched due to stress or excitement.
- A German speaker would use the verb quietschen to describe both the high-pitched noise of a pig and the sound of sneakers on a gymnasium floor.
Examples in context
- Hast du schon einmal eine Maus piepsen gehört?Have you ever heard a mouse squeak?This sentence shows how to use Piepsen when referring to the sound of a mouse.Tatoeba #2722658 by raggione, translation #9440187 by sundown
- Das alte Bett quietscht, wenn man sich bewegt.The old bed squeaks when you move.
- Die Schuhe quietschten auf dem nassen Boden.The shoes squeaked on the wet floor.
- Die Bremsen des Autos kreischen, wenn man zu stark bremst.The car brakes squeal when you brake too hard.
- Die Tür war so rostig, dass sie beim Öffnen kreischte.The door was so rusty that it squeaked when opened.
- Das Spielzeug meiner Katze gibt immer noch einen quietschenden Ton von sich.My cat's toy still makes a squeaky sound.
- Der Tisch quietscht, wenn man daran rüttelt.The table squeaks when you shake it.
- Das Gequieke der Maus war sehr laut.The squeak of the mouse was very loud.
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are in the kitchen at night.
- JuliaHast du das Gequieke gerade gehört?Did you just hear the squeak?
- LukasJa, es kam von unter dem Schrank.Yes, it came from under the cupboard.
- JuliaDas war bestimmt eine kleine Maus.That was surely a little mouse.
- LukasIch hoffe, sie bleibt dort.I hope it stays there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “squeak” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry piepsen.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
