der  Schrecken

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃʁɛkn̩/

😱 What does "der Schrecken" mean?

Der Schrecken is a German noun referring to an intense feeling of sudden, strong fear or fright, often triggered by an unexpected, threatening situation. It can also describe the event or person causing this terror.

• Main meaning: Sudden, intense fear, terror, horror, fright. (e.g., Der Anblick löste bei ihr Schrecken aus. - The sight caused her fright.)
• Figurative meaning: A person or thing that spreads terror. (e.g., Er war der Schrecken der Nachbarschaft. - He was the terror of the neighborhood.)

⚠️ Note: The verb "schrecken" (to frighten someone) or "erschrecken" (to be frightened) is used more commonly in everyday language than the noun, which can sound more formal or literary.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "der Schrecken" in Detail

The noun "Schrecken" is masculine and follows the strong declension pattern. The plural form "die Schrecken" is rare but sometimes used to denote repeated moments of terror or different kinds of horrors.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der laute Knall versetzte alle in Schrecken.
   (The loud bang filled everyone with terror.)
2. Er erzählte von den Schrecken des Krieges.
   (He spoke of the horrors of war. - rare plural)
3. Sie konnte den Schrecken in seinen Augen sehen.
   (She could see the terror in his eyes.)
4. Der Gedanke allein jagte ihm einen Schrecken ein.
   (The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine / gave him a fright.)
5. Zum Schrecken seiner Eltern kletterte er auf das Dach.
   (To his parents' horror, he climbed onto the roof.)

💡 How to use "der Schrecken"?

"Der Schrecken" is mainly used to describe intense, sudden fear. It's often stronger than 'Angst' (fear, anxiety) or 'Furcht' (fear, dread).

• Contexts: Unexpected dangers, moments of shock, traumatic experiences, horror movies, literary descriptions of intense emotions.
• Fixed Expressions (Idioms):
  • jemandem einen Schrecken einjagen: to give someone a fright.
  • vor Schreck(en) erstarren: to freeze in fear/terror.
  • mit dem Schrecken davonkommen: to escape with nothing worse than a fright, to have a lucky escape.
  • der Schrecken saß ihm/ihr in den Gliedern: he/she was still badly shaken / the terror was still in his/her bones.
• Distinction: While 'Angst' often refers to a more prolonged worry or fear about something specific or non-specific, 'Schrecken' typically describes the acute moment of being startled or horrified. 'Grauen' (horror, dread) is similar but often emphasizes the element of the eerie or repulsive.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Schrecken"

Article Mnemonic: Think of DER Moment (the moment) of terror. Moment is masculine in German, just like der Schrecken.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone shouting "Shrek!" suddenly – that might give you a Schrecken (fright)! Or imagine the sound someone makes when startled: a short, sharp sound like "Schreck!".

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Schrecklich (adjective): Terrible, awful, horrible.
• Erschrecken (verb): To be frightened or to frighten someone.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Geist keinen Schrecken vor dem Computer?

Weil er keine Angst vor dem „Systemabsturz“ hat – er kann ja einfach durch die Wand gehen! 😉

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Why isn't the ghost frightened (hat keinen Schrecken) of the computer?

Because he's not afraid of the 'system crash' (Systemabsturz) – he can just walk through the wall! 😉

📜 Poem about Terror

Ein Knall in dunkler Nacht,
hat jäh den Schlaf gebracht
zu jähem Ende, kalt.
Der Schrecken nimmt Gestalt.
Das Herz schlägt bis zum Hals,
als ob da draußen was
gleich durch die Türe bricht,
im fahlen Mondeslicht.
Doch Stille kehrt zurück,
Sekunde, Augenblick.
Nur Nachhall in den Gliedern,
lässt Angst leis wiederkehren.

---

A bang in the dark night,
Has abruptly brought sleep
To a sudden end, cold.
The terror takes shape.
The heart beats up to the throat,
As if something outside
Is about to break through the door,
In the pale moonlight.
But silence returns,
Second, moment.
Only an echo in the limbs,
Lets fear quietly return.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich komme plötzlich, unerwartet,
lasse Herzen schneller rasen.
Bin kalt und oft ganz unbewacht,
kann Augen weit aufreißen lassen.
Manchmal folg' ich lautem Knall,
manchmal stiller, dunkler Nacht.
Man wünscht mich fort auf jeden Fall.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: Der Schrecken)

---

I come suddenly, unexpectedly,
Make hearts race faster.
I am cold and often unguarded,
Can make eyes open wide.
Sometimes I follow a loud bang,
Sometimes a silent, dark night.
One wishes me gone in any case.

What am I? (Answer: Der Schrecken / Terror, Fright)

🌐 Other Information

Word Origin (Etymology): The word "Schrecken" derives from the Old High German verb "skreckan", which originally meant "to jump up", "to spring up". The meaning then evolved towards "to be frightened", "to fall into fear". The noun denotes the result of this process.

Trivia: Horror films often use the so-called "Jump Scare", a sudden visual or auditory stimulus specifically designed to trigger Schrecken (fright) in the audience.