giggle

CEFRB2

/ˈɡɪɡl̩/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To laugh lightly and repeatedly, often nervously.

  2. 02

    noun

    A light, repeated laugh.

Examples

  • Yanni heard the giggle of a little girl.

  • He always had a giggle.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
2
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. A high-pitched, silly laugh.

  2. Fun; an amusing episode.

  3. To laugh gently in a playful, nervous, or affected manner.

More examples

In context

  • She has a cute giggle.

  • I couldn't resist to giggle a little tee hee.

  • The jokes had them giggling like little girls all evening.

Synonyms

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The funny clown made the children blank uncontrollably during the show.

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Nearby

Origin

verb

Early 16th century, probably of imitative origin. Or, perhaps a frequentative based on dialectal English gig (“to creak”), from Middle English gigen (“to make a creaking sound”) + -le; or perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin: compare Saterland Frisian güüchelje (“to giggle”), West Frisian giechelje (“to giggle”), Dutch giechelen (“to giggle”), German Low German giecheln (“to giggle”), dialectal German giggln, gigglen (“to giggle”), German gickeln (“to giggle”). All of these words are likely onomatopoeic as well. Also compare Alemannic German Guege (“fiddle”).