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Describing Noises in German II

Last week, we examined the nouns and verbs for certain noises that are produced in nature and by animals. Now we're going to follow this up with words for sounds produced by humans and machines, though not exclusively.

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The verb klirren is often used for metal objects that are colliding. The noun is das Klirren

 

Auch wenn kein Schwert mehr klirrt ...

Even if no sword clangs anymore...

Caption 77, Jacob rezitiert: Mascha Kaléko

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Last week, we looked at das Summen, which is one type of hum that humans and bees are capable of. But for a constant, low mechanical sound, das Brummen may be more appropriate. 

 

Hörst du das Brummen im Hintergrund?

Do you hear the hum in the background?

Caption 51, Deutsch mit Eylin: Umzug nach Ottensen

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There are so many words for various types of loud and abrupt sounds:  

 

Plötzlich gab es einen Knall und Piggeldy sauste senkrecht in die Luft.

Suddenly, there was a bang and Piggeldy sprang directly up into the air.

Caption 31, Piggeldy und Frederick: Autofahren

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Bums, und sie fielen auf der anderen Seite hinunter.

Thud, and they fell down the other side.

Caption 22, Piggeldy und Frederick: Der Mond

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Immer ein Pochen bis zum Hals bei dir, bei dir.

Always a pounding up to the neck with you, with you.

Caption 2, LOTTE: Schau mich nicht so an

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Es folgte ein vorsichtiges Klopfen an der Tür.

It was followed by a gentle knock at the door.

Caption 40, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Der Froschkönig

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The human voice is capable of a vast range of sounds, which are used here to anthropomorphize the wind.

 

Und der, wenn er wild wird, uns Sand in die Augen weht und uns vorwärts schiebt und singt und klagt und heult und ächzt und stöhnt und braust und brüllt."

And the one that, when he becomes wild, blows sand into our eyes and pushes us forward and sings and moans and howls and groans and sighs and blusters and bellows.

Captions 17-19, Piggeldy und Frederick Der Wind

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Und auch am Silbenende wird es zischend ausgesprochen.

And at the end of a syllable, too, it is pronounced with a hissing sound.

Caption 26, Deutsch mit Eylin: S und Z - Part 2

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Further Learning
You can find more examples of these words on Yabla German and even look up a few more, such as das Klacken and das Knirschen.