chillar

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish chirlar, from *chislar, from Vulgar Latin *cistulāre, an alteration of Latin fistulāre (to play the flute), which is derived from Latin fistula (flute). Compare Catalan xisclar.

Pronunciation

 
  • IPA(key): /t͡ʃiˈʝaɾ/ [t͡ʃiˈʝaɾ] (most of Spain and Latin America)
  • IPA(key): /t͡ʃiˈʎaɾ/ [t͡ʃiˈʎaɾ] (rural northern Spain, Andes Mountains, Paraguay, Philippines)
  • IPA(key): /t͡ʃiˈʃaɾ/ [t͡ʃiˈʃaɾ] (Buenos Aires and environs)
  • IPA(key): /t͡ʃiˈʒaɾ/ [t͡ʃiˈʒaɾ] (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay)

  • Rhymes: -aɾ
  • Syllabification: chi‧llar

Verb

chillar (first-person singular present chillo, first-person singular preterite chillé, past participle chillado)

  1. to shriek, to screech, to scream
    • 1984, “Cena recalentada”, in A Santa Compaña, performed by Golpes Bajos:
      La loca de mi madre que me chilla y no se cansa
      My crazy mother who screams at me and doesn't get tired
  2. to creak
  3. to sizzle, to hiss
  4. (colloquial) to speak; say a word

Conjugation

Derived terms

Further reading

Swedish

Verb

chillar

  1. present indicative of chilla