German grammar
los-Verben: losheulen, loslachen, losschreien
Tell someone to suddenly start doing something, using colloquial los-Verben.
From the scene Heul los! (Start crying)
In short
Add los- for suddenly starting: losheulen, loslachen. Neutral is anfangen zu + infinitive.
Your turn
Which one goes with burst out laughing! (colloquial, du)?
Options: heul los! · schreit los! · lach los!
Show answer
burst out laughing! (colloquial, du) → lach los!
How it works
Colloquial German adds los- to a verb to say someone suddenly starts doing it.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Perfekt. Jetzt (blank) ich los... vor Lachen!
Clue: ich (Elena)
Options: heule · heult · heulst
Show answer
Perfekt. Jetzt heule ich los... vor Lachen!
Perfect. Now I'm bursting into tears... of laughter!
Good to know
Losheulen (start bawling), loslachen (burst out laughing), losschreien (start yelling).
Good to know
It's separable, like other los-verbs: du heulst los, ihr schreit los.
Good to know
The neutral, everyday way to say "start doing" is anfangen zu + infinitive: fang an zu weinen — losheulen is punchier and more colloquial.
start bawling! (colloquial, du) heul los!
Elena
Zuerst: Tomás, heul los.
First: Tomás, start crying.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Zuerst: Tomás, (blank).
Options: lach los · schreit los · heul los
Show answer
Elena
Zuerst: Tomás, heul los.
First: Tomás, start crying.
burst out laughing! (colloquial, du) lach los!
Elena
Nicht schlecht. Jetzt, Nuria, lach los.
Not bad. Now, Nuria, burst out laughing.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Nicht schlecht. Jetzt, Nuria, (blank).
Options: schreit los · lach los · heul los
Show answer
Elena
Nicht schlecht. Jetzt, Nuria, lach los.
Not bad. Now, Nuria, burst out laughing.
start shouting! (colloquial, ihr) schreit los!
Elena
Letzter Test: Ihr beide, schreit los!
Last test: both of you, start shouting!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Letzter Test: Ihr beide, (blank)!
Options: lach los · schreit los · heul los
Show answer
Elena
Letzter Test: Ihr beide, schreit los!
Last test: both of you, start shouting!
neutral: start crying fang an zu weinen
Your turn
What goes with fang an zu weinen?
Options: start bawling! (colloquial, du) · burst out laughing! (colloquial, du) · neutral: start crying
Show answer
fang an zu weinen → neutral: start crying
I burst into tears ich heule los
Common mistake
Not heult or heulst here. Du, ein Befehl.
Zuerst: Tomás, heul los.
First: Tomás, start crying.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| start bawling! (colloquial, du) | heul los! |
|---|---|
| burst out laughing! (colloquial, du) | lach los! |
| start shouting! (colloquial, ihr) | schreit los! |
| neutral: start crying | fang an zu weinen |
| I burst into tears | ich heule los |
More lines from the story
- ElenaPerfekt. Jetzt heule ich los... vor Lachen!Perfect. Now I'm bursting into tears... of laughter!