die
Schwere
⚖️ What does "die Schwere" mean?
The noun die Schwere is feminine and has several meanings, often related to the adjective schwer (heavy, difficult, serious):
- Physical Weight / Gravity: The property of having a high weight, or the force of attraction (die Schwerkraft - gravity). Example: Die Schwere des Pakets war überraschend. (The weight/heaviness of the package was surprising.)
- Difficulty / Hardship: The state of something being difficult, strenuous, or complex. Example: Die Schwere der Prüfung lag in den Detailfragen. (The difficulty of the exam lay in the detailed questions.)
- Seriousness / Gravity / Severity: The high degree of importance, seriousness, or oppressiveness of a situation or feeling. Example: Man spürte die Schwere des Abschieds im Raum. (One could feel the gravity/seriousness of the farewell in the room.)
⚠️ Note: In everyday language, the word das Gewicht is more commonly used for physical weight. Die Schwere can sound a bit more elevated or is used specifically in the context of physics (gravity).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📜 Grammar of "die Schwere" in Detail
Die Schwere is a feminine noun. It is mainly used in the singular as it often describes abstract concepts.
Declension Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Schwere | eine Schwere |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Schwere | einer Schwere |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Schwere | einer Schwere |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Schwere | eine Schwere |
Declension Plural
The plural die Schweren is very rare and used almost exclusively in poetic or highly specific technical language (e.g., for different types of weights or burdens). Generally, no plural is formed for the concepts of difficulty and seriousness.
💡 Example Sentences
- Die Astronauten spürten die Schwere erst bei der Rückkehr zur Erde wieder. (The astronauts only felt gravity again upon returning to Earth.)
- Er war sich der Schwere seiner Verantwortung bewusst. (He was aware of the gravity/seriousness of his responsibility.)
- Die Schwere der Aufgabe lag nicht im Umfang, sondern in der Komplexität. (The difficulty of the task lay not in its scope, but in its complexity.)
- Trotz der Schwere des Themas versuchte er, es verständlich zu erklären. (Despite the gravity/complexity of the topic, he tried to explain it comprehensibly.)
🗣️ How to Use "die Schwere"
The use of die Schwere strongly depends on the context:
- Physics & Technology: Here, die Schwere often refers to the physical force (die Schwerkraft - gravity) or the significant weight of an object. Example: Die Gesetze der Schwere. (The laws of gravity.)
- Abstract Contexts: Very commonly, die Schwere is used to describe the degree of difficulty of a task, the seriousness of a situation, or the depth of a feeling (e.g., die Schwermut - melancholy). Examples: die Schwere einer Entscheidung (the gravity of a decision), die Schwere einer Krankheit (the severity of an illness), die Schwere eines Vorwurfs (the seriousness of an accusation).
- Comparison:
- Das Gewicht: Usually refers concretely to the measurable weight of an object (e.g., in kilograms).
- Die Schwierigkeit: Is more specific to tasks, problems, or learning material.
- Der Ernst: Emphasizes the importance and lack of lightness in a situation.
Die Schwere often lends a deeper, more serious, or weightier tone to the statement compared to more specific terms like Schwierigkeit or Gewicht.
🧠 Mnemonics to Help
Article Mnemonic: Think of the word 'She' - She feels die Schwere (the weight/burden). 'She' helps remember the feminine article 'die'.
Meaning Mnemonic: Connect it to the English word 'severe' or the German adjective schwer (heavy/difficult):
- A severe weight has Schwere (weight).
- A severe task has Schwere (difficulty).
- A severe situation has Schwere (seriousness).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- For weight/load: das Gewicht (weight), die Last (load, burden), die Wucht (force, impact), die Bürde (burden)
- For difficulty: die Schwierigkeit (difficulty), die Komplexität (complexity), die Mühsal (toil, hardship), die Herausforderung (challenge)
- For seriousness: der Ernst (seriousness), die Bedeutsamkeit (significance), die Wichtigkeit (importance), die Tragweite (scope, gravity), die Tiefe (depth)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- For weight/load: die Leichtigkeit (lightness), die Schwerelosigkeit (weightlessness)
- For difficulty: die Leichtigkeit (ease), die Einfachheit (simplicity), das Kinderspiel (child's play)
- For seriousness: die Leichtigkeit (lightness, lightheartedness), die Unbeschwertheit (carefreeness), die Oberflächlichkeit (superficiality), die Banalität (banality)
⚠️ Similar, but Different Words:
- Der Schweregrad: Denotes the degree or intensity of something negative (e.g., an injury, a disability). (Degree of severity)
- Die Schwermut: A state of deep sadness or melancholy. (Melancholy)
😄 A Little Joke
Warum ist die Schwerkraft so schlecht gelaunt?
Weil sie alles immer so runterzieht! 😄
(Why is gravity in such a bad mood? Because it's always bringing everything down!)
✍️ Poem about "die Schwere"
Die Schwere drückt, mal sanft, mal fest,
Mal als Gewicht, das uns nicht lässt,
Mal als Gedanke, tief und klar,
Der uns die Leichtigkeit gebar.
Die Schwere einer ernsten Stund',
Die Schwere auf dem Weltenrund.
Doch trägt sie auch Bedeutung, Sinn,
Führt uns zur Tiefe, zum Gewinn.
(Translation:
The heaviness presses, sometimes gently, sometimes firm,
Sometimes as weight, that doesn't let us squirm,
Sometimes as thought, profound and clear,
That birthed the lightness we hold dear.
The gravity of a serious hour's sound,
The gravity on the whole world round.
Yet it also carries meaning, sense,
Leads us to depth, to recompense.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe keinen Körper, doch Gewicht verleihe ich.
Ich mache Aufgaben mühsam, bin selten erfreulich.
Man spürt mich in ernsten Momenten, tief im Gemüt.
Mal zieh' ich dich runter, mal zeig' ich, was blüht.
Was bin ich?
(Translation:
I have no body, yet I grant weight.
I make tasks arduous, seldom elate.
You feel me in serious moments, deep in the soul.
Sometimes I pull you down, sometimes show a goal.)
Lösung/Solution: Die Schwere (Heaviness / Gravity / Difficulty / Seriousness)
🧩 Other Information
Word Family:
- The word die Schwere is derived from the adjective schwer (heavy, difficult, severe).
- Related words include erschweren (to make more difficult), beschweren (to complain or to weigh something down), die Beschwerde (complaint or physical ailment).
Compounds:
- Die Schwerkraft: Gravity (the physical force).
- Die Schwerelosigkeit: Weightlessness.
- Das Schwergewicht: Heavyweight (e.g., in boxing) or a very important person/thing.
- Die Schwermut: Melancholy (a state of deep sadness).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schwere?
The word 'Schwere' is a feminine noun and always takes the article die: die Schwere. It describes weight, difficulty, or seriousness.