01
währen
to last
To continue or exist over a certain period of time. It is a rather formal or elevated word for 'dauern' (to last).
example
Die Stille nach dem Sturm währte nur kurz.
The silence after the storm lasted only briefly.
währen
to last
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'währen' (to last) is the root of the very common preposition 'während' (during/while). Both words express duration. The word 'Währung' (currency) is also related and describes something that retains its value over time.
EXAMPLE
Die Friedensverhandlungen währten mehrere Wochen.
The peace negotiations lasted several weeks.
Elevated style
The verb 'währen' (to last) belongs to elevated written language and is often used in literary or formal texts. It is rarely heard in everyday German.
EXAMPLE
Sein Glück sollte nicht lange währen.
His happiness was not to last long.
Use in the preterite
In narratives and reports, 'währen' (to last) is very often used in the past tense, the preterite (e.g. 'währte', 'währten'), to describe a completed duration in the past.
EXAMPLE
Die Freude über den Sieg währte bis in die späten Abendstunden.
The joy over the victory lasted into the late evening hours.
Proverb
The expression 'Was lange währt, wird endlich gut' (all's well that ends well) is a well-known German proverb. It is used to express that patience and a long wait have paid off in the end.
EXAMPLE
Nach zehn Jahren Planung wurde das Museum eröffnet. Was lange währt, wird endlich gut.
After ten years of planning, the museum was opened. All's well that ends well.
Compare with
währen vs während
during / while
'während' and 'währen' look almost the same, but they have different functions. 'während' connects times or names a period of time: something happens during a meeting or while someone is working. 'währen' is a verb and means 'to last'. It sounds rather formal or elevated and is often replaced by 'dauern' in everyday language. The risk of confusion comes mainly from the similar spelling. Pay attention: 'während' is used with a period of time or a subordinate clause, while 'währen' is the verb in the sentence.
währen
Die Ruhe nach dem Streit währte nur wenige Minuten.
The calm after the argument lasted only a few minutes.
während
Während des Termins bleibt das Handy bitte leise.
Please keep your phone quiet during the appointment.
In real life
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