German word

schwenken

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃvɛŋkən/

Meaning

  • verbwave

Example

Er schwenkt die Fahne.

He is waving the flag.

Illustration for schwenken (wave)

More examples

Beim Grillen schwenkt er die Pfanne, damit nichts anbrennt.

While grilling, he swings the pan so that nothing burns.

Core concept

A flag or camera moves through a controlled arc, changing direction without necessarily making a full circle.

Common phrases

  • die Pfanne schwenken

    swing the pan

  • die Fackel schwenken

    swing the torch

Similar words

drehen: Rotate an object around its central axis.
schütteln: Shake an object with quick, small movements.
winken: Wave a hand from side to side to greet or signal.
schwingen: Swing an object or body in a wide motion around a pivot.

Definition in German

etwas rotierend oder in einem Bogen bewegen; auch den Blick oder die Kamera über eine Fläche führen

Word origin

Schwenken comes from Middle High German swenken, an inherited Germanic verb for moving something with a swinging or turning motion.

Usage tips

  • For waving to a person, German usually uses winken; schwenken more often describes moving an object, such as a flag, or panning a camera.

Other meanings

  • swingverb
  • rotateverb

Opposites

  • arretierensecureverb
  • immobilisierenimmobilizeverb

Related words

  • schwenkbarpivotableadjective
  • Schwenkungpivotnoun

Word lists with this word