schwer

German

Etymology

From Middle High German swær, from Old High German swār, from Proto-Germanic *swēraz, from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“heavy, grave, serious”). Cognate with English sweer and Latin sērius.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃveːɐ̯/

• audio (Germany):

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• audio (Austria):

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• Rhymes: -eːɐ̯

Adjective

schwer (comparative schwerer, superlative am schwersten)

1. heavy, weighty
   • 1921, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Trommel, in Weberin Schuld, G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 18:

     Und sie ging gebückt, als trage sie eine schwere Last, […]

     And she walked bowed as if she carried a heavy load, […]

2. difficult, hard
3. serious
4. indigestible (food)

Derived terms

• schwergängig
• schwerhörig

Further reading

• “schwer” in Duden online