The German word for sword is das Schwert.
Schwert in German is used in literal and symbolic contexts—whether you're reading about knights, watching a film, or discussing sharp decisions. It’s a classic word that still feels relevant.

And yes, it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (grab the illustrated PDF and dive deeper).

Gender and Pronunciation

It’s a neuter noun: das Schwert.
Want to lock in genders more easily? This video lesson teaches patterns that really work.

Pronunciation:
Schwert is pronounced [shvairt]

• “shvair” rhymes with “air”

• Ends in a crisp “t”
  One syllable: SHVAIRT

Example sentences

Der Ritter zog sein Schwert.

The knight drew his sword.

Das Schwert glänzt in der Sonne.

The sword shines in the sun.

Worte können schärfer sein als ein Schwert.

Words can be sharper than a sword.

How does this word come up in real conversations?

"Im Film hatte sie ein magisches Schwert."

In the movie, she had a magical sword.

"Das Schwert ist ein Symbol für Macht."

The sword is a symbol of power.

"Er sammelte antike Schwerter."

He collected antique swords.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Leo: Was ist dein Lieblingsobjekt im Museum?
Anna: Das Schwert aus dem Mittelalter!
Leo: Das war echt beeindruckend.
Anna: Ich hätte gern so eins im Wohnzimmer!

Translation:
Leo: What’s your favorite item in the museum?
Anna: The medieval sword!
Leo: That really was impressive.
Anna: I’d love one like that in my living room!

Grammatical case examples

Nominative:
Das Schwert ist alt und wertvoll.

The sword is old and valuable.

Accusative:
Ich habe das Schwert fallen lassen.

I dropped the sword.

Dative:
Mit dem Schwert kann man kämpfen.

You can fight with the sword.

Genitive:
Die Klinge des Schwertes ist scharf.

The blade of the sword is sharp.

Other ways to say sword in German

While Schwert is the main word for sword in German, other terms appear in specialized contexts. Degen refers to a dueling sword (rapier), Säbel to a saber, and Klinge to the blade itself. In poetic or figurative speech, Schwert symbolizes justice, danger, or honor—especially in idioms and expressions.

Word variations and tidbits

Schwert appears in words like Langschwert (longsword), Kurzschwert (short sword), Zweihandschwert (two-handed sword), and Flammenschwert (flaming sword). You might see Schwertkampf (sword fighting), Schwertscheide (scabbard), or even Richterschwert (judge’s sword). Idioms include ein zweischneidiges Schwert (a double-edged sword) and das Schwert der Wahrheit (the sword of truth).

📘 Duden entry for Schwert
🎥 Want to slice through German confusion? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns—with examples, tips, and a downloadable PDF.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Schwester means? She might defend you with a Schwert.
And what about Seele? Sometimes, that’s what the Schwert is meant to protect.