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    gern schwänzen

    Grammar & Usage

    verb phrase
    informal / colloquial

    How it works

    This phrase combines the modal adverb 'gern' (gladly/habitually with pleasure) with the colloquial weak verb 'schwänzen' (to skip/ditch). In standard word order, the conjugated form of 'schwänzen' sits in the V2 position in main clauses, with 'gern' following closely. It typically takes an accusative object specifying the event or institution skipped (e.g., die Schule, den Unterricht).

    Sample sentences

    Als Jugendlicher hat er gern die Schule geschwänzt.

    As a teenager, he liked skipping school.

    Sie schwänzt gern die langweiligen Vorlesungen am Freitagmorgen.

    She likes to skip the boring lectures on Friday mornings.

    Wer gern schwänzt, bekommt am Ende des Semesters oft schlechte Noten.

    Those who like to ditch class often get bad grades at the end of the semester.

    Quick facts

    valency:transitive with accusative object or used absolutely
    etymology:Derived from 'Schwanz' (tail), historically referring to wandering around idly like a wagging tail
    verbConjugation:schwänzen (schwänzt, schwänzte, hat geschwänzt)

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    Als Jugendlicher hat er gern die Schule geschwänzt.

    As a teenager, he liked skipping school.

    Sie schwänzt gern die langweiligen Vorlesungen am Freitagmorgen.

    She likes to skip the boring lectures on Friday mornings.

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