German word

schweigen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃvaɪ̯gn̩/

Meaning

  • verbremain silent

Example

Sie schweigt die ganze Zeit.

She remains silent the whole time.

Illustration for schweigen (remain silent)

More examples

Die Demonstranten schweigen aus Protest.

The demonstrators remain silent in protest.

Core concept

A voice stops at the edge of a conversation, whether from choice, restraint, or a refusal to answer.

Common phrases

  • aus Protest schweigen

    remain silent in protest

  • über etwas schweigen

    remain silent about ___

Similar words

sich bedeckt halten: To keep personal views or intentions private while remaining reserved.
die Klappe halten: To keep quiet in a blunt, colloquial way.
nicht antworten: To give no reply to a question or call.

Definition in German

Sich bewusst nicht äußern und schweigend bleiben

Word origin

Schweigen comes from an old Germanic verb family that included Old High German swīgan and described keeping silent.

Usage tips

  • The construction zu etwas schweigen means staying silent about a matter, as in zu diesem Punkt schweigen.

Other meanings

  • keep quietverb
  • stay silentverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word