Schwan
/ʃvaːn/masculine
The German word for swan is Schwan. Wiktionary also lists Schwänin.
Meaning: waterfowl of the genus Cygnus (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schwan | /ʃvaːn/ | masculine |
| Schwänin | feminine |
The term refers to a waterfowl of the genus Cygnus.
Which one should you use?
Schwan is the masculine form, while Schwänin is the feminine form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Schwan is Schwäne.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃvaːn/
Did you know?
- The German word Schwan shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'swan', both tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to sound' or 'to resound'.
- In German heraldry, the Schwan is a frequent symbol representing purity and nobility, often appearing on city crests and family coats of arms.
- The term Schwanenhals is used in German to describe a 'swan neck', referring both to the bird and as a compliment for a long and elegant human neck.
Examples in context
- Dieser Schwan ist schwarz.This swan is black.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a Schwan.Tatoeba #2226504 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2158242 by Hybrid
- Das hässliche Entlein wurde ein schöner Schwan.The ugly duckling turned into a beautiful swan.This sentence illustrates the transformation of a duckling into a Schwan.Tatoeba #5205000 by faehrmann, translation #7584566 by CHThiem
- Aus dem hässlichen Entlein ward ein wunderschöner Schwan.The ugly duckling became a beautiful swan.This sentence provides another way to describe the transformation into a Schwan.Tatoeba #11163617 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12146762 by sundown
- Der elegante Schwan schwimmt majestätisch auf dem See.The elegant swan swims majestically on the lake.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a park.
- HannahSiehst du den Schwan dort im Teich?Do you see the swan there in the pond?
- MaximilianJa, der Schwan sieht sehr elegant aus.Yes, the swan looks very elegant.
- HannahEr ist wirklich wunderschön, findest du nicht auch?He is truly beautiful, don't you think?
- MaximilianAbsolut, er ist ein toller Anblick.Absolutely, he is a wonderful sight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swan” translations and entries Schwan, Schwänin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Schwan, Schwänin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
