German word

schwingen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃvɪŋən/

Meaning

  • verbswing

Example

Das Pendel schwingt ruhig.

The pendulum swings quietly.

Illustration for schwingen (swing)

More examples

Die Stimmung des Raums schwingt zwischen Spannung und Erleichterung.

The mood of the room swings between tension and relief.

Core concept

A pendulum traces an arc, while a person can set an object, feeling, or audience into a similar resonant motion.

Common phrases

  • das Pendel schwingt

    the pendulum swings

  • zwischen Freude und Trauer schwingen

    swing between joy and sorrow

  • die Stimme schwingt vor Aufregung

    the voice trembles with excitement

Similar words

schaukeln: To rock repeatedly from side to side or back and forth.
schwanken: To sway unsteadily as balance shifts.
pendeln: To swing regularly back and forth from a fixed point.

Definition in German

In einem bogen- oder pendelartigen Rhythmus schwingen; transitiv: etwas in Bewegung oder Wirkung versetzen; übertragen: Stimmung oder Resonanz erzeugen.

Word origin

German schwingen comes from Old High German swingan and is cognate with English swing, extending from physical motion to figurative emotional or resonant effects.

Usage tips

  • German uses schwingen both intransitively and transitively, with the moved object taking the accusative in the transitive use.

Other meanings

  • wieldverb

Opposites

  • stillstehenstand stillverb
  • ruhenbe stillverb

Related words

  • Schwingungvibrationnoun
  • schwingendswayingadjective

Word lists with this word