chillar

to scream

to screech

chillar(chee-yahr)

intransitive verb

1. (to cry out)

a. to scream (in pain or fear)

El niño chillaba de dolor cuando se lastimó la rodilla.

The boy was screaming in pain when he hurt his knee.

b. to shriek (in fear)

Perdón por chillar, pero es que me he pegado un susto tremendo.

I'm sorry for shrieking. It's just that I had a very big fright.

2. (to emit a sound)

a. to screech (bird)

El pájaro chillaba y chillaba, y yo no podía dormir.

The bird was screeching and screeching, and I couldn't sleep.

b. to squeal (pig)

Los cerdos estaban en la pocilga, chillando y apretujándose unos contra otros.

The pigs were in the pigsty, squealing, all squashed together.

c. to squeak (mouse)

Supe que había un ratón en la casa porque lo oí chillando.

I knew there was a mouse in the house because I heard it squeaking.

3. (to raise one's voice)

a. to shout

No hace falta que chilles. Te oigo perfectamente.

There's no need for you to shout. I can hear you perfectly well.

b. to yell

Estaba venga a chillar, muy enojado.

He was very angry and wouldn't stop yelling.

4. (to weep)

a. to cry

La mamá le dijo al niño que dejara de chillar o se quedaba sin helado.

The mom told the child that if he didn't stop crying there'd be no ice cream for him.

5. (to make a noise)

a. to screech (brakes)

Detuvo el auto bruscamente, y los frenos chillaron.

He stopped the car abruptly, and the brakes screeched.

b. to creak (wooden object)

Esa puerta de madera chilla cada vez que la abro.

That wooden door creaks every time I open it.

6. (to be bright)

a. to be intense (color)

Para mi gusto, ese color amarillo chilla demasiado.

That yellow is too intense for my liking.

7. (to not match)

(Colombia)

a. to clash (color)

El marrón y el rojo de la pared chillan.

The brown and the red on the wall clash.

8. (to demonstrate)

(Latin America)

a. to protest

Miles de personas salieron hoy a la calle para chillar en contra de la discriminación.

Thousands of people went out today to protest against discrimination.

chillarse

pronominal verb

9. (to grumble)

(Latin America)

a. to complain

Se chilla todo el día por tener que trabajar.

She complains all day long because she has to work.

10. (to redden)

(Costa Rica)

a. to blush

Se chilló cuando la llamaron al frente del salón de clases.

She blushed when she was called to the front of the classroom.