kriechen
crawl
Sich sehr langsam bewegen, oft nahe am Boden, mit dem Bauch oder auf Händen und Knien.
Definition & meaning
The verb kriechen primarily describes a slow method of locomotion where the body remains very close to the ground or touches it. This can apply to animals like snakes, snails, or insects, as well as to humans who are moving on their hands and knees or flat on their stomachs.
Beyond its literal physical meaning, the word has two common figurative uses:
- Slow movement: It can describe vehicles or people moving at an extremely slow pace, such as cars in a heavy traffic jam.
- Subservience: In a social context, it refers to behaving in an overly submissive, sycophantic, or humble manner toward someone in a position of power, often to gain an advantage. This is equivalent to the English "to grovel" or "to toad-eat."
Grammar & Word origin
kriechen is a strong (irregular) verb. Its principal parts are:
- Present: er/sie/es kriecht
- Past (Präteritum): kroch
- Perfect (Partizip II): ist gekrochen
The verb uses the auxiliary verb sein because it denotes a change of location.
Etymologically, it originates from the Middle High German kriechen and the Old High German kriochan. It is related to the English word "crouch," though the meanings have diverged over time.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- krabbeln: Often used for babies crawling or small insects moving quickly.
- robben: Specifically moving forward on the belly, like a seal or a soldier under wire.
- schleichen: To move quietly and cautiously (to sneak).
- einschleimen: Used for the figurative sense of being overly flattering or submissive.
Antonyms
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Examples
Die Katze kriecht unter das Sofa.verb
The cat crawls under the sofa.
Der Hund kriecht langsam durch den Tunnel.verb
The dog crawls slowly through the tunnel.
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