German Conversation · Level 65
75 words
German word
zittern
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈtsɪtɐn/
Meaning
- verbtremble
Example
Ich zittere vor Kälte.
I am trembling from the cold.
More examples
Die Bilder an der Wand zitterten nach dem Erdbeben.
The pictures on the wall trembled following the earthquake.
Core concept
A body or object quivers in small, repeated movements, like a hand trembling in the cold or a loose part vibrating.
Common phrases
die Stimme zittern
the voice trembles
vor Aufregung zittern
tremble with excitement
leicht zittern
tremble slightly
Similar words
schlottern: To shiver and shake strongly, especially from intense cold.
bibbern: To shiver rapidly in small movements from cold or fear.
zucken: To make a brief, involuntary twitch or jerk.
Definition in German
intransitives Verb für kleine, rhythmische, meist unwillkürliche Bewegungen oder Vibrationen des Körpers oder von Gegenständen
Word origin
Zittern continues Middle High German zitern and belongs to an inherited Germanic word family, while its deeper origin is uncertain.
Usage tips
- The cause commonly follows vor with the dative, as in vor Kälte or vor Angst zittern.
Other meanings
- shiververb
- shakeverb
Related words
- das Zitterntremblingnoun
- zittrigshakyadjective