schwankte

Schwankte is the simple past (Präteritum) form of the German verb schwanken. The verb covers both a physical sense, meaning to sway, wobble, or oscillate, and a figurative sense, meaning to waver, be indecisive, or fluctuate. In everyday speech the present form schwanken is more common, while schwankte appears primarily in written narratives, news reports, or formal prose.

Conjugation and related forms

- Infinitive: schwanken

- Present tense: ich schwanke, du schwankst, er/sie/es schwankt

- Simple past (Präteritum): ich schwankte, du schwanktest, er/sie/es schwankte, wir schwankten, ihr schwanktet, sie schwankten

- Perfect (Perfekt): hat geschwankt

- Pluperfect: hatte geschwankt

- Future I: wird schwanken

- Present participle: schwankend

Usage notes

Schwankte is used for actions set in the past where the subject moved unevenly or showed instability. Physically, a tree or a boat can schwanken in wind or waves. Figuratively, opinions, prices, oder moods can schwanken, indicating fluctuation or uncertainty. The verb is closely related to wanken, which often emphasizes weakness or tipping, while schwanken tends to cover a broader range of instability.

Examples

- Der Baum schwankte im Sturm. (The tree swayed in the storm.)

- Die Aktienkurse schwankten im Tagesverlauf. (The stock prices fluctuated during the day.)

- Ihre Stimme schwankte, als sie den Namen aussprach. (Her voice wavered as she spoke the name.)

Related forms

Schwanken yields nouns such as Schwankung (fluctuation) and Schwank (anecdote or farce in some uses). The present participle schwankend describes something that is swaying or wavering.