kritzeln
Translation
to scribble, to scrawl, to doodle
Examples
Das Kind kritzelte auf ein Blatt Papier.
The child scribbled on a piece of paper.
Er hat eine Nummer auf die Serviette gekritzelt.
He scribbled a number on the napkin.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) kritzeln to scribble ((sth.)) He scribbled a note.
((auf sth.acc)) kritzeln to scribble ((on sth.)) She scribbled on the table.
Similar Words
Synonyms: schmieren (to smear); Related terms: schreiben (to write), zeichnen (to draw)
Etymology
Onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound of scratching with a pen.
Memory Tips
The sound of 'kritzeln' resembles the scratching sound of a pen on paper: 'kritz-kratz'.