abschwören

/ˈapˌʃvøːʁən/

verb C1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present: schwört ab
past: schwor ab
perfect: hat abgeschworen

Meaning

to renounce

Built from ab (off, away) + schwören (to swear).
- Er schwor dem Alkohol ab.
  
  He renounced alcohol.
- Der Mann schwor dem Alkohol für immer ab. Seine Familie war sehr stolz auf ihn.
  
  The man renounced alcohol for ever. His family was very proud of him.

Made of

ab off, away
schwören to swear

Similar words

abdanken

Abdanken is to abdicate or resign from a position of power (a throne, an office); abschwören is to renounce or forswear a belief, habit, or past allegiance.

Similar in other languages

Portuguese

renegar

renegar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to renounce."

Portuguese

renunciar

renunciar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to renounce."

Practice

1 What does abschwören mean?

2 Fill the gap: Er ___ dem Alkohol ab.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches abschwören?

verbirregularseparablecompound

Last updated 2026-09-24