greinen

to whine, to snivel, to cry fretfully

verb GRAY-nen Rare

Usage Note

greinen describes a petty, whining kind of crying, often associated with children who complain and fuss without serious reason. It is dismissive: 'Hör auf zu greinen!' (Stop your snivelling!). Compare weinen (to weep) which is more dignified and not dismissive.

Examples

"Das Kind greinte am Abendbrottisch, weil es keine Süßigkeiten bekommen hatte."

Natural Translation

The child whined at the dinner table because it had not got any sweets.

Literal Translation

The child whined at-the dinner-table, because it no sweets received had.

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