schwören

Schwören is a German verb with several related meanings centered on solemn commitment or assertion. The primary sense is to take or pronounce an oath, a formal pledge often used in legal, ceremonial, or religious contexts. It can also mean to promise strongly to do something or to assert something with firm conviction. In everyday language it serves both as “to vow” (Ich schwöre, ich werde es tun) and as a way of emphasizing the truth or seriousness of a statement (Sie schwört darauf, dass es wahr ist). In many cases the phrase is completed with a particle such as "bei Gott" or "aufrecht" to intensify the commitment.

Conjugation and forms: Schwören is a strong verb with irregular past forms. The present tense includes ich schwöre, du schwörst, er schwört, wir schwören, ihr schwört, sie schwören. The simple past is typically ich schwor, du schworst, er schwor; wir schworen. The past participle is geschworen, used with haben in the perfect tense: ich habe geschworen.

Noun usage and related terms: The noun Schwur denotes the oath or pledge itself (der Schwur). Related concepts include Gelöbnis or Verpflichtung. A common idiom is einen Schwur brechen, meaning to break an oath, or einem Schwur folgen, to keep to an oath.

Etymology and cognates: Schwören descends from Old High German swêren and is cognate with Dutch zweren and the English swear. The sense of swearing an oath is historically central to the verb.

Usage notes: In German, schwören is not used for profanities; that sense is expressed with fluchen or verfluchen. In legal and formal contexts, oaths are often sworn on a religious text or in the name of honor.