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"Squeal" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "chillar", and "squeak" is an intransitive verb which is also often translated as "chillar". Learn more about the difference between "squeal" and "squeak" below.
squeal(
skwil
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. chillar
The children squealed with delight when they saw the presents.Los niños chillaron de alegría cuando vieron los regalos.
b. chirriar (tires, brakes)
The car's tires squealed when it took the corner.Las llantas del auto chirriaron al doblar la esquina.
c. rechinar (tires, brakes)
My brakes were squealing as I tried to stop in time.Me rechinaban los frenos cuando traté de parar a tiempo.
2. (colloquial) (to inform on)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. cantar (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
He'll squeal if the police press him hard enough.Cantará si la policía lo presiona bastante.
b. delatar (transitive)
That so-called pal of mine must have squealed on me.Este supuesto amigo mío debió haberme delatado.
3. (to protest)
a. quejarse
One of the players was squealing about a referee's decision he didn't agree with.Uno de los jugadores se estaba quejando de una decisión del árbitro con la que no estaba de acuerdo.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (to utter)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el chillido (M) (of person, animal)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I was roused by the squeals of a rat that the cat had caught.Me despertaron los chillidos de una rata que el gato había atrapado.
b. el grito (M) (of person)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
She gave a squeal of pain and dropped the hot pan.Dio un grito de dolor y dejó caer la olla caliente.
c. el chirrido (M) (of tires, brakes)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The police car sped off in a squeal of tires.Con un chirrido de llantas, el carro de policía partió a toda velocidad.
squeak(
skwik
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. chillar (animal or person)
I heard the mouse squeak under the kitchen sink before I saw it.Oí al ratón chillar bajo el fregadero de la cocina antes de verlo.
b. chirriar (mechanical)
The front door squeaks when you open it, so I always know when someone opens the door.La puerta delantera chirría cuando se abre, entonces siempre sé cuando alguien abre la puerta.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. chillar
When he asked me a question, instead of speaking the answer, I squeaked it, because of my laryngitis.Cuando me hizo una pregunta, en lugar de decir la respuesta, la chillé, por mi laringitis.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el chillido (M) (animal or person)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I heard a squeak in the backyard and it turned out to be a baby kitten.Oí un chillido en el patio trasero y resultó ser un gatito bebé.
b. el chirrido (M) (mechanical)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The dog is sad because his ball lost its squeak.El perro está triste porque su pelota perdió su chirrido.
c. el crujido (M) (shoes)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I love the squeak of new shoes.Me encanta el crujido de los zapatos nuevos.
4. (figurative) (utterance)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. la palabra (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I haven't heard a squeak from Craig in years. He may be dead for all I know.No he oído ni una palabra de Craig en años. Por lo que sé, podría estar muerto.
b. pío (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
I saw protesters surrounding the governor's office today, but I haven't heard a squeak in the news.Vi manifestantes rodeando la oficina del gobernador hoy, pero no he oído ni pío en las noticias.
