to skip
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to skip
Colloquial for deliberately and without permission staying away from school lessons or another mandatory event.
Er hat gestern die letzte Stunde geschwänzt, um mit seinen Freunden ins Kino zu gehen.
He skipped the last class yesterday to go to the movies with his friends.
The verb 'schwänzen' (to skip) is related to the noun 'der Schwanz' (tail). It creates the image of someone secretly sneaking away like an animal with its tail tucked in.
Er schwänzte die Schule, um ins Schwimmbad zu gehen.
He skipped school to go to the swimming pool.
'Schwänzen' (to skip) is a colloquial word. It is used in everyday speech among friends or in informal conversations, but not in official documents or very formal situations.
Hast du heute Morgen auch die erste Stunde geschwänzt?
Did you skip first period this morning too?
This verb is almost always used in connection with school or university. Typical accusative objects are 'die Schule' (school), 'den Unterricht' (class/lessons), 'eine Stunde' (a class period), or 'die Vorlesung' (the lecture).
Viele Schüler haben am letzten Schultag geschwänzt.
Many students skipped school on the last day of school.
to be absent / to be missing
'fehlen' and 'schwänzen' can both mean that someone is not at a class or a mandatory event. 'fehlen' is neutral: the person is not present, but the reason could be illness, vacation, or something else. 'schwänzen' is colloquial and means that someone deliberately and without permission stays away. Learners may confuse the words because both are used in connection with school or appointments. If you are not judging the reason, use 'fehlen'. If it is clear that someone intentionally does not come even though they have to, use 'schwänzen'.
Vor der Prüfung schwänzt er den Unterricht, obwohl er lernen sollte.
Before the exam, he skips class even though he should be studying.
Mia fehlt heute im Kurs, weil sie krank ist.
Mia is absent from the course today because she is sick.