schwer

Schwer is a German adjective meaning heavy or difficult, and it can also function as an adverb meaning heavily or with effort. In physical contexts it describes weight, while in figurative use it denotes hardness, severity, or complexity.

As a noun, Schwere denotes heaviness or seriousness, and in scientific terms the related word Schwerkraft refers to gravity, while der Schwerpunkt means the center of gravity. The term Schwere can also describe hardship or severity in phrases like eine schwere Zeit.

Usage examples illustrate its range. Der Stein ist schwer. This stone is heavy. Es ist schwer, das zu verstehen. It is difficult to understand that. Es fällt mir schwer, Deutsch zu lernen. It is hard for me to learn German. Compounds include schwere Last (heavy burden), schwere Aufgabe (a difficult task), and schwerfallen, a verb meaning to be hard for someone.

Grammatical notes: schwer has the standard positive form, with comparative schwerer and superlative am schwersten. As an adverb, schwer modifies verbs: Er atmet schwer. In many contexts schwer conveys both physical weight and abstract difficulty, but German differentiates by using Schwerkraft for gravity and Schwere for heaviness as a noun.

Etymology: schwer originates from older Germanic roots, with cognates in other Germanic languages; related forms include Dutch zwaar and other historical equivalents. The word is common across German-speaking regions and appears in many everyday and technical expressions.