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schwänzen

to skip school

verb SHVEN-tsen Rare
People & Society Education

Also means

to play truant

Usage Note

Schwänzen is an informal but widely understood verb for skipping school or a lesson without permission — playing truant. Die Schule schwänzen or den Unterricht schwänzen are the common collocations. It can also apply to skipping other obligations like lectures.

Examples

"Er hat den Dienstagvormittag geschwänzt und ist ins Kino gegangen."

Natural Translation

He skipped Tuesday morning and went to the cinema.

Literal Translation

He has the Tuesday-morning truanted and is to-the cinema gone.

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