chirriante
/t͡ʃiˈrjante/
The English adjective "squeaky" can be translated into Spanish as chirriante. Wiktionary also lists chirriadero and chirriador.
Meaning: producing a high-pitched sound or squeak (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| chirriante | /t͡ʃiˈrjante/ |
| chirriadero | /t͡ʃirjadeɾo/ (from spelling rules) |
| chirriador | /t͡ʃirjadoɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| chirreador | /t͡ʃireadoɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| chirreante | /t͡ʃireante/ (from spelling rules) |
The term is used to describe something that produces a high-pitched sound or squeak.
Which one should you use?
While chirriante is a standard adjective, you may encounter other related forms such as chirriadero, chirriador, chirreador or chirreante. Note that while chirriante is the adjective for "squeaky", if you want to refer to the sound itself as a noun, you should use chirrido.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃiˈrjante/
Did you know?
- The word chirriar can be used metaphorically to say that something 'clashes' or is out of place in a social or aesthetic sense.
- The verb chirriar is used to describe the sound of teeth grinding together, a specific usage that doesn't have a direct one-word equivalent in English.
- While English uses 'squeaky' for many things, using chirriar for a bird's chirp would sound incorrect, as it is almost exclusively reserved for mechanical or inanimate objects.
Examples in context
- Ese sonido chirriante me pone muy nervioso.That squeaky sound makes me very nervous.
- La puerta vieja tiene un ruido chirriante.The old door has a squeaky noise.
- No me gusta el tono chirriante de ese juguete.I don't like the squeaky tone of that toy.
Example conversation
María and Javier are in the kitchen.
- MaríaJavier, ¿oyes ese ruido chirriante?Javier, do you hear that squeaky noise?
- JavierSí, creo que es la nevera.Yes, I think it is the fridge.
- MaríaTenemos que arreglarlo pronto.We have to fix it soon.
- JavierTienes razón, María, lo miraré.You are right, María, I will look at it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “squeaky” translations and entries chirriante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
