See also: schwul

German edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Low German, from Middle Low German swōl, swūl, in Standard German since the 18th century, ultimately from the root of schwelen (to smoulder). The umlaut is possibly due to analogy with kühl (cool). The unumlauted form schwul is limited to the sense gay, homosexual. Cognate with Dutch zwoel (sultry; sensual), Old Norse svalr (cold), English sweal, swelter.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)
  • IPA(key): /ʃvyːl/

Adjective edit

schwül (strong nominative masculine singular schwüler, comparative schwüler, superlative am schwülsten)

  1. (weather) sultry, close, oppressive, muggy
    • 1808, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Abend”, in Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil [Faust, Part One]‎[1]:
      Es ist so schwül, so dumpfig hie, / Und ist doch eben so warm nicht drauß’.
      It is so sultry, so humid here, / and yet it's not even that hot outside.

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

See also edit

Further reading edit

  • schwül” in Duden online
  • schwül” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache