What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cheep
Example
The baby birds cheeped loudly, waiting for their mother to bring them food. [cheeped: past tense]
Example
I heard the cheeping of the chicks as I walked by the farm. [cheeping: gerund or present participle]
chirp
Example
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. [chirping: present participle]
Example
The robin chirped happily as it perched on the branch. [chirped: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Chirp is more commonly used than cheep in everyday language. Chirp is versatile and can be used to describe the sounds made by different bird species, while cheep is more specific to the sound made by baby birds.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cheep and chirp?
Both cheep and chirp are informal words. They are commonly used in casual conversations and informal writing.
