German word

Schwere

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃveːʁə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounweight

Example

Die Schwere des Koffers überraschte mich.

The weight of the suitcase surprised me.

Illustration for Schwere (weight)

More examples

Die Schwere der Verletzung war offensichtlich.

The severity of the injury was obvious.

Core concept

A downward pull becomes a burden: it makes an object hard to lift, a task hard to bear, or a situation grave.

Common phrases

  • die Schwere des Gepäcks

    weight of the luggage

  • die Schwere einer Entscheidung

    weight of a decision

  • die Schwere eines Verlustes

    weight of a loss

Similar words

Gewicht: The measurable amount of heaviness shown by a scale.
Last: A physical load that must be carried or supported.
Bürde: A responsibility that weighs heavily on the mind.

Definition in German

Die Masse oder das Gewicht eines Gegenstands, das angibt, wie stark er nach unten zieht.

Word origin

Schwere is formed from the adjective schwer and continues Middle High German swære, from an inherited Germanic root.

Usage tips

  • German normally uses Gewicht for a measured quantity, while Schwere is more common for felt, figurative, or formal weight.

Other meanings

  • difficultynoun
  • severitynoun
  • gravitynoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word