schwärmen

See also: Schwärmen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German swermen (“to swarm”), from Old High German swermen (“to swarm”), derived from swarm (“swarm of bees”), whence modern German Schwarm (“swarm; flock of birds”). The figurative senses developed in Early Modern German via “to deviate from the established dogma or school of thought”.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈʃvɛrmən/, [ˈʃʋɛʁ-], [ʃʋɛɐ̯-], [-mən], [-mn̩], [-mm̩]
  • Audio(file)

Verb

schwärmen (weak, third-person singular present schwärmt, past tense schwärmte, past participle geschwärmt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (of birds and insects) to swarm; to fly in swarms or flocks
    Die Bienen schwärmen.
    The bees swarm.
  2. to romanticize; be given to romantic or mystic thoughts
    Synonym: schwelgen
    Er saß am Ufer und schwärmte vor sich hin.
    He was sitting at the shore, romanticizing by himself.
  3. to adore; fancy (to be romantically attracted by someone, often without making advances) [+ für (object)]
    Er schwärmte heimlich für sie.
    He secretly adored her.
  4. to gush; to rave about; to be enthusiastic about [+ von (object)]
    Er schwärmte lautstark von ihr.
    He was raving loudly about her.
  5. (informal) to praise highly; extol [+ von (object)]
    Viele Menschen schwärmen vom Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen in Deutschland.
    Many people extol the health and social services in Germany.

Conjugation

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Derived terms

Further reading
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