weilen
to dwell
To stay or remain in a place for a certain period of time. The word is mostly used in elevated or poetic language.
EXAMPLE
Der König weilte für drei Tage in der Stadt.
The king dwelled in the city for three days.
weilen
to dwell
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
nicht mehr unter uns weilen
to no longer be among us
A euphemistic, formal way of saying that someone has died.
EXAMPLE
Leider weilt der berühmte Autor schon seit einigen Jahren nicht mehr unter uns.
Sadly, the famous author has no longer been among us for several years.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'weilen' (to dwell/stay) is closely related to the noun 'die Weile' (a while, an indefinite period of time). So 'weilen' literally means to spend a while in a place.
EXAMPLE
Er weilte eine ganze Weile am Fenster und blickte hinaus.
He dwelled at the window for quite a while and looked outside.
Register: elevated language
'Weilen' (to dwell/stay) is an elevated, almost poetic word. It is not used in normal everyday language. It fits formal occasions or literary texts.
EXAMPLE
Der Dichter weilte oft an diesem See, um Inspiration zu finden.
The poet often dwelled by this lake to find inspiration.
Fixed expression for 'died'
The phrase 'nicht mehr unter uns weilen' (to no longer be among us) is a very formal and indirect paraphrase for a person's death. It is often used in obituaries or memorial speeches.
EXAMPLE
Der geschätzte Kollege weilt seit letztem Jahr nicht mehr unter uns.
The esteemed colleague has no longer been among us since last year.
Compare with
weilen vs bleiben
to stay / remain
Bleiben and weilen can both express staying in a place. Bleiben neutrally emphasizes that someone does not leave. Weilen describes staying somewhere temporarily and sounds elevated or poetic, so it is more suitable for formal or literary texts.
weilen
Während ihrer Reise weilt die Ministerin drei Tage in Bonn.
During her trip, the minister spends three days in Bonn.
bleiben
Während ihrer Reise bleibt die Ministerin drei Tage in Bonn.
During her trip, the minister stays in Bonn for three days.
In real life
Loading video examples...