Pronunciation: [ʃwˈɜː] (IPA) 
The German word "schwer" (IPA: ʃvɛːr) is spelled using the combination of the letter "s" and the digraph "ch". The IPA phonetic transcription of "sch" yields the sound ʃ, which is similar to the "sh" sound in English. The "w" in the word is silent, making the pronunciation of the vowel "e" elongated. "Schwer" translates to "difficult" or "heavy" in English and is commonly used in everyday conversation.
Schwer is a German term that can be translated to English as "difficult" or "hard." It is an adjective that is commonly used to describe a task, situation, or concept that presents challenges or requires significant effort to accomplish or understand.
In the context of a task, it implies that it is not easily achievable, often requiring expertise, knowledge, or physical strength to complete successfully. It can describe activities that demand mental or physical skills or those that involve complex problem-solving. For example, "Die Matheaufgabe war schwer" means "The math problem was difficult." This implies that the math problem was challenging and required advanced mathematical skills to solve.
In terms of a situation, schwer suggests that it may be complicated, problematic, or hard to navigate. It can describe circumstances that are demanding, overwhelming, or emotionally burdensome. For instance, "Die Verhandlungen waren sehr schwer" means "The negotiations were very difficult." This indicates that the negotiations were tough and involved conflicting interests or strong opposition.
Furthermore, schwer can also be used to indicate that something is physically hard or resistant, such as a material or substance. It can convey the idea that something is not easily malleable or penetrable. For instance, "Das Metall ist schwer zu bearbeiten" means "The metal is difficult to work with." This suggests that the metal is tough, requiring specialized tools or techniques for manipulation.
Overall, schwer is a versatile adjective in German that conveys the sense of something being difficult, challenging, hard, or resistant.
The word "schwer" comes from the Old High German word "swana", which means "heavy" or "difficult". Over time, it evolved into the Middle High German word "swer" or "swerre" with the same meaning. Eventually, it transformed into the modern German word "schwer", which still carries the connotations of heaviness or difficulty.
