strampeln

German

Etymology

15th century, iterative of Middle Low German strampen. Related with stramm, Strumpf, and Dutch strompelen.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Verb

strampeln (weak, third-person singular present strampelt, past tense strampelte, past participle gestrampelt, auxiliary haben)

1. to move one's legs (and arms) strenuously

   Das Baby strampelt schon.

   The baby already kicks its legs.

   Er warf sich auf den Boden und strampelte und brüllte.

   He threw himself on the ground and kicked and screamed.

   Bei der starken Strömung mussten die Schwimmer ganz schön strampeln.

   In the strong current the swimmers had to struggle quite a bit.

   Bei dem starken Gegenwind mussten die Radfahrer ganz schön strampeln.

   In the strong headwind the cyclists had to pedal quite a bit.

Derived terms

• sich abstrampeln
• Strampelanzug

Further reading

• “strampeln” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “strampeln” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “strampeln” in Duden online