schwenken
/ˈʃvɛŋkn̩/
The German verb for 'swivel' is schwenken. Wiktionary also lists drehen and schwingen.
Meaning: to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| schwenken | /ˈʃvɛŋkn̩/ |
| drehen | /ˈdʁeː(ə)n/ /ˈdʁeːhən/ |
| schwingen | [ˈʃvɪŋən] (narrow) |
The term refers to the action of swinging or turning an object on a pin or pivot. schwenken specifically describes an object moving in an arc or swinging from one side to another, such as a camera lens or a crane arm.
Which one should you use?
German uses different verbs depending on the type of rotation. Use drehen for general rotation, specifically when an object rotates around its own axis like a screw or a wheel. In contrast, use schwenken when the movement involves swinging on a fixed point or moving in an arc. schwingen is another related form for swinging motions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The simple past form of schwenken is schwenkte, and its past participle is geschwenkt.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃvɛŋkn̩/
Did you know?
- While drehen describes rotation, it is also the standard German word for 'filming' a movie.
- The German verb drehen is a linguistic 'cousin' to the English word 'throw'.
Examples in context
- Wir müssen das Objektiv nach links schwenken.We need to swivel the lens to the left.
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are setting up a tripod for a photo.
- JulianKannst du die Kamera ein Stück schwenken?Can you swivel the camera a little bit?
- HannahJa, ich schwenke sie jetzt nach rechts.Yes, I am swiveling it to the right now.
- JulianDas sieht jetzt viel besser aus.That looks much better now.
- HannahDanke, Julian. So ist der Winkel perfekt.Thanks, Julian. This way the angle is perfect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swivel” translations and entries schwenken, drehen, schwingen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries drehen, schwenken, schwingen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
