das Kikeriki, -s

Definition & meaning

Kikeriki is the German onomatopoeic representation of the sound made by a rooster (a cock-a-doodle-doo). It is used to imitate the crowing of the bird, especially in the early morning.

In a figurative or colloquial sense, it can sometimes be used to describe something trivial, nonsensical, or "chatter." Occasionally, it is also used to refer to someone who acts overly arrogant or tries to be the "boss" of a situation (reminiscent of a rooster strutting in a yard).

Grammar & Word origin

The word is an indeclinable noun or interjection. It is derived from the imitation of the natural sound produced by the animal. Because it is purely an onomatopoeic word, it does not have a formal linguistic root like other nouns; rather, it is a phonetic transcription of a sound.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• Hahnenruf ↗ (The call of a rooster)
• Krähen ↗ (Crowing)

Antonyms:

• There are no direct antonyms for this word, as it is a specific sound imitation.