wiegen
to weigh
To have a certain weight.
EXAMPLE
Der Koffer darf nicht mehr als 23 Kilogramm wiegen.
The suitcase must not weigh more than 23 kilograms.
wiegen
to weigh
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Meanings
wiegen
to weigh
To determine the weight of something or someone using a scale.
EXAMPLE
Die Hebamme wiegt das Neugeborene jeden Tag.
The midwife weighs the newborn every day.
wiegen
to rock
To move someone or something gently and rhythmically back and forth.
EXAMPLE
Die Mutter wiegt ihr Baby in den Armen, um es zu beruhigen.
The mother rocks her baby in her arms to calm it down.
sich wiegen
to sway
To move oneself—or, for things, to be moved by an external force—slowly and rhythmically back and forth.
EXAMPLE
Die Äste der alten Weide wiegen sich sanft im Wind.
The branches of the old willow sway gently in the wind.
wiegen
to weigh
To mentally examine arguments, reasons, or possibilities and evaluate them against each other; to weigh up.
EXAMPLE
Bevor du eine Entscheidung triffst, musst du die Konsequenzen sorgfältig wiegen.
Before you make a decision, you need to weigh the consequences carefully.
Usage tips
Strong vs. weak
This verb has either a strong or weak conjugation depending on its meaning. In the meaning 'sanft hin und her bewegen' (to move gently back and forth), it is weak (wiegte, gewiegt). In all other meanings (weight, weighing up), it is strong (wog, gewogen).
EXAMPLE
Sie wiegte das Baby sanft in ihren Armen.
She gently rocked the baby in her arms.
Having weight
When 'wiegen' (to weigh) means to have a certain weight, it is used without an accusative object. The sentence follows the pattern: subject + wiegen + weight information.
EXAMPLE
Ich wiege ungefähr 70 Kilogramm.
I weigh about 70 kilograms.
Measuring weight
When 'wiegen' (to weigh) means to determine the weight of something, it needs an accusative object. The sentence follows the pattern: subject + wiegen + object.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte kurz den Koffer wiegen?
Could you quickly weigh the suitcase, please?
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich wiegen' always means 'to move slowly and rhythmically back and forth'. It is often used for things in nature, such as trees or grasses in the wind.
EXAMPLE
Die Palmen wiegten sich im leichten Wind.
The palm trees swayed in the light wind.
Figurative meaning
In a figurative, abstract meaning, 'wiegen' (to weigh) is used for mentally examining arguments or risks. Typical objects are 'Gründe' (reasons), 'Argumente' (arguments), and 'Vor- und Nachteile' (pros and cons).
EXAMPLE
Man muss die Risiken sorgfältig wiegen, bevor man investiert.
You have to weigh the risks carefully before investing.
Compare with
wiegen vs messen
to measure
Messen is the general expression for determining a property with a device. For weight, however, wiegen is used, especially with a scale. Other quantities, such as length or temperature, are measured instead.
wiegen
Die Ärztin wiegt das Kind auf einer Waage.
The doctor weighs the child on a scale.
messen
Die Ärztin misst die Körpergröße des Kindes.
The doctor measures the child's height.
In real life
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