schrik

Schrik is a Dutch noun meaning fear, fright, or alarm, especially a sudden startle. It denotes an abrupt emotional reaction to a threat, a loud noise, or a surprise, but it can also refer to a more general sense of anxiety. The related verb schrikken means to scare or to become frightened; a diminutive form schrikje is used for a small fright in some contexts.

Etymology: Schrik is a native Dutch term with cognates in other West Germanic languages, such as Frisian skrik and German Schreck. They share a common root referring to fear and sudden shock, and the words are related though the exact historical development varies by language.

Usage: In standard Dutch, schrik emphasizes immediacy—a sudden fright at a noise or danger. Examples: "Toen ik de knal hoorde, schrok ik." and "Ik schrok van het geluid." In psychology, the startle reflex or startle response is a similar, measurable physiological reaction to abrupt stimuli, sometimes described in Dutch as a form of schrik.

Cultural context: The concept appears in Dutch literature and speech, and has cognates in related Germanic languages that distinguish between a quick fright and a deeper fear.

See also: schrikken; Schreck; startle reflex.