Learn How To Use The Tricky Luxembourgish Verb Kréien

IN Level A2, Verbs

The Luxembourgish verb kréien is a very common verb with the basic meaning of “to get“. Now both kréien and “to get” are super broad. Take to get: It can mean to receive but it can also mean to achieve or to obtain and so does kréien.

The Conjugation:

Present Tense:
Ech kréien
Du kriss
Hien / hatt / Si kritt
Mir kréien
Dir kritt
Si kréien

Past Tense: krut
Past Participle: kritt

How is the Luxembourgish Verb Kréien Used?

There are several ways to express the verb kréien in a sentence:

Let’s examine this versatile verb, which has no fewer than ten different meanings, depending on the context. The basic meanings are listed below:

1. kréien

Meaning: to get in sense of to receive or to be given as a present

Beispiller (examples):
Kann ech d’Rechnung kréien, w.e.g.? Can I get / receive the bill please?
Muer kréie mir eisen neien Auto. Tomorrow we will receive our new car.
Ech hunn haut vill Emaile kritt. I received many emails today.
Ech krut fir mäi Gebuertsdag e seidene Fischi. I got a silken scarf for my birthday.
Wat hues du fir Chrëschtdag kritt? What did you get for Christmas?

2. kréien (erwaarden)

Meaning: to expect a child

Examples:
Meng Tatta kritt nach ee Puppelchen. My aunt is expecting another baby.
Meng Nopere kréien endlech hiren éischte Puppelchen. My neighbours are finally expecting their first baby.

3. kréien

Meaning: to obtain in sense of to manage to get

Examples:
Ech hoffen, ech kréien dës Woch nach e Rendez-vous beim Dokter. I hope, I’ll still obtain an appointment at the doctor this week.
Beim Bäcker op der Gare kritt een net ëmmer Vollkarbrout! At the baker at the station you don’t always manage to get whole grain bread.

4. kréien

Meaning: to get in sense of to have imposed

Examples:
Wann s du hei parks, kriss du ee gepecht. If you park here, you will get a fine.
Meng Duechter huet haut eng fatzeg Strof an der Schoul kritt. My daughter got terribly punished at school today.

Listen to the weekly lesson on the “Luxembourgish with Anne podcast” via iTunes.

5. kréien

Meaning: to get in sense of to succeed in getting

Examples:
Ech kréien endlech e neie Computer um Büro. I finally get a new computer at work.
Hoffentlech kréien ech mäi Mann dozou, mat mir a Japan an d’Vakanz ze goen. Hopefully I will get my husband to go with me to Japan on holidays.

This is a very useful construction actually: een dozou kréien …ze

Ech kréien een dozou, eppes ze maachen. I get someone to do something.
Ech probéiere mäi Bouf dozou ze kréien, méi Sport ze maachen. I try to get my son to do more sports.

Just remember that you need the do-word dozou in there.

6. kréien

Meaning: to get in sense of to catch a means of public transport

Examples:
Tommel dech, soss kriss de de Bus net. – Hurry up, otherwise you won’t catch the bus.

7. kréien

Meaning: to get hold of in sense of to catch

Examples:
D’Police huet d’Verbriecher séier kritt. The police caught quickly the criminels.
Ech kréien d’Maus einfach net gefaangen. I can’t get hold of the mouse.

Kréien in conversations

Kréien is a common word which is often used in shops, such as in the supermarket, at the bakery, in a café or at the market:

Wat kritt Dir?
Mir kréien e Kaffi mat Mëllech an e gréngen Téi, w.e.g..
Wann ech gelift!
Merci. Wat kritt Dir?
6,50 Euro.

What can I get you?
We would like (to get) a coffee with milk and a green tea, please.
Please!
Thanks. How much is it?
6,50 Euro.

I hope you liked this lesson and learn HERE the different prefixes which can be added to kréien for example zou-, op-, hin-, or some prepositions such as mat – which change the meaning of the verb!

A Luxembourgish Expression With Kréien

Learn this typical Luxembourgish expression:

sech an d’Hoer kréien – to argue or to quarrel.

Example:
Meng Schwéiermamm an ech kréien eis dacks an d’Hoer. My mother-in-law and I often argue.

Exercise / Übung:

Translate the following sentences into Luxembourgish:

1. If you (plural) want to catch the train, you have to go now.
2. Hopefully I will get my wife to go with me to Greece on holidays.
3. I haven’t received many emails today.