Schreeuwen

Schreeuwen is a Dutch verb meaning to utter a loud, piercing cry or shout. The act is characterized by high volume and forceful vocalization, often conveying urgency, anger, fear, or excitement. It can describe both everyday shouting in social settings and louder, more emphatic calls in crowds or performances.

The term is related to the noun schreeuw (a shout) and derives from Old Dutch with Germanic roots. It is largely onomatopoeic in character, reflecting the sound of a loud voice. The related noun and verb are standard in both the Netherlands and Flanders and are commonly used across formal and informal registers.

In usage, schreeuwen implies deliberately raising one's voice above normal speaking level. It may carry a negative connotation when directed at someone (as in scolding or yelling) or a positive one when expressing enthusiasm in a crowd. It is distinct from gillen, which often denotes shrieking with fear or pain, and from roepen, which generally means to call out to someone at a distance or to issue commands. Conjugation is regular: present tense ik schreeuw, jij schreeuwt, hij/zij schreeuwt, wij schreeuwen, jullie schreeuwen, zij schreeuwen. Past tense ik schreeuwde, jij schreeuwde, hij schreeuwde, wij schreeuwden, jullie schreeuwden, zij schreeuwden. Participle: geschreeuwd. Perfect constructions use hebben: hij heeft geschreeuwd. Examples: Hij schreeuwt tegen de kinderen; De menigte schreeuwde van plezier.