to chuckle
[verb]
[gnif-fe-len, gnif-fel-de, ge-gnif-feld]

Sometimes it’s hard to keep a straight face and if you can resist laughing out loud, you might end up chuckling ("gniffelen"). "Gniffelen" is one of the few Dutch words which has an "n" preceding succeeding a "g" in the same syllable. The verb "giechelen" ("to giggle") has a slightly similar meaning but is more often used when referring to girls or women.

Examples:
– "Wat sta je daar nu te gniffelen? Dit is een serieuze zaak!" 
("What are you chuckling about? This is a serious matter!")

– "Ik heb echt geprobeerd om mijn lach in te houden maar moest toch een beetje gniffelen." 
("I really tried to keep a straight face but had to chuckle a little bit after all." Lit.: "I really tried to restrain my laughter but …")

– " <Leraar:> Jongens, stop eens met dat gegniffel of ik laat jullie vanmiddag nablijven." 
("<Teacher:> Boys, stop chuckling or I’ll put you in detention this afternoon.")

Expressions:
– "Lachen, gieren, brullen": laughing, screaming, shreaking.

Example:
– "Het was weer lachen, gieren, brullen tijdens de surprise-avond."
("We had a real laugh again during the surprise-evening.")

Related words:
– Giechelen: to giggle [verb] [giechelde, gegiecheld].
– Lachen: to laugh [verb] [lachte, gelachen].