schwül

See also: schwul

German

Etymology

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

  • (file)
  • IPA(key): /ʃvyːl/

Adjective

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]:
      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

Derived terms

  • Schwülewarnung
  • schwülheiss
  • schwülheiß
  • schwülwarm

See also

Further reading

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