chillar
“chillar” means “to scream” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to screamAlso: to shriek, to yell
📝 In Action
¡No me chilles, que no estoy sordo!
A2Don't scream at me, I'm not deaf!
Los niños chillaban de alegría en el parque.
B1The children were screaming with joy in the park.
Si ves una araña, no te pongas a chillar.
B1If you see a spider, don't start shrieking.
Word Connections
to screechAlso: to squeak, to creak
📝 In Action
Los frenos del coche empezaron a chillar.
B1The car brakes started to screech.
La puerta chilla cada vez que la abres.
B1The door squeaks every time you open it.
Oigo algo chillar en el jardín, parece un ratón.
B2I hear something squeaking in the garden, it sounds like a mouse.
Word Connections
to clashAlso: to be gaudy
📝 In Action
Ese color verde chilla un poco con la pared azul.
B2That green color clashes a bit with the blue wall.
Lleva una corbata que chilla.
C1He's wearing a tie that's really loud (gaudy).
Word Connections
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: chillar
Question 1 of 3
Which word would you use for a small mouse making a sound?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Likely an onomatopoeic creation—a word made up to sound exactly like the noise it describes (a sharp, piercing sound).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'gritar' and 'chillar'?
Gritar is general shouting (like at a football match). Chillar is specifically for high-pitched, piercing screams or shrieks.
Can 'chillar' be used for animals?
Yes! It is used for pigs, mice, and birds to describe their specific high-pitched sounds.
Is 'chillar' a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all -ar verbs in all tenses.