German word

verschweigen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈʃvaɪ̯gn̩/

Meaning

  • verbkeep secret

Example

Sie verschweigt ein Detail.

She is keeping a detail secret.

Illustration for verschweigen (keep secret)

More examples

Der Angeklagte verschweigt Informationen über den Vorfall.

The defendant is withholding information about the incident.

Core concept

A relevant fact stays behind closed lips while someone knowingly leaves it out of a conversation.

Common phrases

  • jemandem etwas verschweigen

    keep ___ from someone

  • Informationen verschweigen

    withhold information

  • eine Straftat verschweigen

    conceal a crime

Similar words

verheimlichen: Hide information from others to keep it secret.
auslassen: Omit a specific part of the information being given.
nicht sagen: Decide not to mention something that should be said.
für sich behalten: Keep information to oneself rather than tell anyone else.

Definition in German

jemandem etwas verschweigen heißt, absichtlich eine Information nicht mitteilen.

Word origin

Verschweigen combines the prefix ver- with schweigen, "to be silent," and goes back to Middle High German verswigen.

Usage tips

  • Verschweigen commonly takes a dative person and an accusative fact, as in "Sie verschweigt ihm ein Detail"; its ver- prefix is inseparable.

Other meanings

  • withholdverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Verschweigenwithholdingnoun
  • verschwiegendiscreetadjective

Word lists with this word