sway

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• General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsweɪ̯/
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• /ˈswe̞(ː)/ US, Canada, monophthongization
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• US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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• Australian: /ˈswæ̝ɪ̯/
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• rhymes with -eɪ
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• CMU ARPABET: S W EY1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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From Old English svieia (“noisy stream”) (see swegan (“to make a noise”)), probably referring to the river Avon.

From earlier swey (“to fall, swoon”), from Middle English sweyen, from Old English *swǣġan (“to bend, bow”), from Proto-West Germanic *swaigijan, from Proto-Germanic *swaigijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sweh1- See also Saterland Frisian swooie (“to swing, wave, wobble”); also Lithuanian svai̇̃gti (“to become giddy or dizzy”), the second element of Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌-𐬱𐬑𐬎𐬀𐬑𐬙𐬀 (pairi-šxuaxta, “to surround”), Sanskrit स्वजते (svájate, “he embraces, enfolds”). The noun derived from the verb.

213 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Bulgarian: люлеене (ljuleene) — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Danish: svaje — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Dutch: zwenken — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Faroese: sveiggj — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Finnish: heiluminen — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Finnish: heilunta — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Finnish: heilahdus — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Finnish: huitaisu — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• French: balancement — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• French: oscillation — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Galician: abalo — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Galician: vango — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Galician: balouco — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• German: Schwingen — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• German: Schwenken — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Hungarian: hullámzás — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Hungarian: ringatózás — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Hungarian: ingás — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Hungarian: lendülés — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Hungarian: lendítés — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Italian: ondeggiamento — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Italian: fluttuazione — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Italian: dondolio — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Italian: oscillazione — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Norwegian Bokmål: svai — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Russian: кача́ние (kačánije) — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Spanish: balanceo — the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon
• Bulgarian: люлеене (ljuleene) — a rocking or swinging motion
• Bulgarian: олюляване (oljuljavane) — a rocking or swinging motion
• Finnish: huojuminen — a rocking or swinging motion
• Finnish: huojunta — a rocking or swinging motion
• Finnish: keinahdus — a rocking or swinging motion
• Finnish: keinunta — a rocking or swinging motion
• French: balancement — a rocking or swinging motion
• French: basculement — a rocking or swinging motion
• French: oscillation — a rocking or swinging motion
• German: Hin- und Herschwingen — a rocking or swinging motion
• German: Mitschwingen — a rocking or swinging motion
• Hungarian: hullámzás — a rocking or swinging motion
• Hungarian: ringatózás — a rocking or swinging motion
• Hungarian: hintázás — a rocking or swinging motion
• Hungarian: lendülés — a rocking or swinging motion
• Italian: tentennamento — a rocking or swinging motion
• Russian: кача́ние (kačánije) — a rocking or swinging motion
• Bulgarian: влияние (vlijanie) — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Finnish: vaikutusvalta — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Finnish: painoarvo — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Finnish: paino — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• French: autorité — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• French: poids — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• French: influence — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• German: Einfluss — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• German: Beeinflussung — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• German: Macht — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• German: Gewicht — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Hungarian: ráhatás — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Irish: ardréim — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Italian: preponderanza — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Italian: inclinazione — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Italian: spinta — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Spanish: influencia — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Spanish: influjo — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Spanish: preponderancia — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• Spanish: poderío — influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
• French: prépondérance — preponderance; turn or cast of balance
• German: Übergewichtigkeit — preponderance; turn or cast of balance
• German: Übergewicht — preponderance; turn or cast of balance
• German: Übermacht — preponderance; turn or cast of balance
• Italian: influenza — preponderance; turn or cast of balance
• Bulgarian: власт (vlast) — rule; dominion; control
• Finnish: valta — rule; dominion; control
• Finnish: hallinta — rule; dominion; control
• German: Beherrschung — rule; dominion; control
• German: Herrschaft — rule; dominion; control
• German: Macht — rule; dominion; control
• German: Kontrolle — rule; dominion; control
• Hungarian: befolyás — rule; dominion; control
• Irish: ardréim — rule; dominion; control
• Italian: dominio — rule; dominion; control
• Italian: controllo — rule; dominion; control
• Italian: governo — rule; dominion; control
• Polish: władza — rule; dominion; control
• Russian: власть (vlastʹ) — rule; dominion; control
• Afrikaans: swaaie — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Armenian: երերալ (ereral) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Azerbaijani: yırğalanmaq — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Bashkir: һелкенеү (helkenew) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Bashkir: бәүелеү (bəwelew) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Bulgarian: люлея се (ljuleja se) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Catalan: balancejar — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Catalan: balandrejar-se — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Catalan: gronxar-se — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Chinese Mandarin: 搖晃 /摇晃 (yáohuang) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Chinese Mandarin: 搖擺 /摇摆 (yáobǎi) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Dutch: zwaaien — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Esperanto: balanci — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Faroese: sveiggja — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Finnish: keinua — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Finnish: keinahdella — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Finnish: huojua — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Finnish: huojahdella — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Finnish: vaarua — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• French: balancer — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Galician: abalar — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Galician: vanguear — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• German: schaukeln — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• German: sich wiegen — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• German: schwanken — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• German: hin- und herschwingen — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• German: schunkeln — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Ancient Greek: πάλλω (pállō) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Hungarian: hullámzik — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Hungarian: imbolyog — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Hungarian: ring — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Hungarian: ringatózik — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Hungarian: himbálózik — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Hungarian: hintázik — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Hungarian: inog — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Ingrian: horjua — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Ingrian: häilyä — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Ingrian: häylyä — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Italian: agitarsi — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Italian: scuotersi — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Italian: ondeggiare — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Italian: tentennare — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Italian: inclinarsi — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Japanese: 揺れる (yureru) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Khmer: យោល (yool) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Latin: vacillō — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Malay: koiri — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Māori: tītahataha — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Māori: kōngangengange — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Māori: raumaewa — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Māori: tūohu — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Māori: whatiwhati — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Māori: tīoioi — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Māori: ori — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Norwegian Bokmål: svaie — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Polish: trząść — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Portuguese: balançar — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Russian: кача́ться (kačátʹsja) — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Slovak: pohupovať sa — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: balancear — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: bambolear — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: cimbrarse — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: mimbrear — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: contonearse — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: cantonearse — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: denguear — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: tongonearse — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Spanish: mecerse — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Swedish: vaja — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Vietnamese: đu — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Vietnamese: đung đưa — to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock
• Bashkir: һелкеү (helkew) — to move or wield with the hand
• Bashkir: һелтәү (heltəw) — to move or wield with the hand
• Bulgarian: люлея (ljuleja) — to move or wield with the hand
• Finnish: heilauttaa — to move or wield with the hand
• Finnish: heiluttaa — to move or wield with the hand
• Finnish: vilkuttaa — to move or wield with the hand
• German: schwingen — to move or wield with the hand
• German: schwenken — to move or wield with the hand
• Hungarian: suhint — to move or wield with the hand
• Hungarian: lóbál — to move or wield with the hand
• Italian: sventolare — to move or wield with the hand
• Italian: sbattere — to move or wield with the hand
• Italian: scuotere — to move or wield with the hand
• Italian: agitare — to move or wield with the hand
• Norwegian Bokmål: svinge — to move or wield with the hand
• Russian: кача́ть (kačátʹ) — to move or wield with the hand
• Spanish: bambolear — to move or wield with the hand
• Spanish: balancear — to move or wield with the hand
• Bulgarian: повлиявам (povlijavam) — to influence or direct by power and authority
• Finnish: vaikuttaa — to influence or direct by power and authority
• Finnish: hallita — to influence or direct by power and authority
• French: influencer — to influence or direct by power and authority
• German: beeinflussen — to influence or direct by power and authority
• German: beherrschen — to influence or direct by power and authority
• German: dirigieren — to influence or direct by power and authority
• Irish: téigh i bhfeidhm ar — to influence or direct by power and authority
• Māori: whakapakepake — to influence or direct by power and authority
• Polish: rządzić — to influence or direct by power and authority
• Spanish: incidir — to influence or direct by power and authority
• Bashkir: һелкетеү (helketew) — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Bulgarian: залюлявам (zaljuljavam) — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Finnish: heiluttaa — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Finnish: keinuttaa — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• German: beeinflussen — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• German: anstoßen — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• German: anschnipsen — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• German: anrubbeln — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Ingrian: löyhyttää — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Italian: orientamento — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Italian: tendenza — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Italian: inclinazione — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Italian: piegamento — to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward
• Finnish: nostaa — nautical: to hoist into position
• German: hochzehen — nautical: to hoist into position
• German: hissen (Flagge) — nautical: to hoist into position
• German: aufwinden — nautical: to hoist into position
• Czech: vychýlit — to be drawn to one side by weight or influence
• Czech: naklonit — to be drawn to one side by weight or influence
• Finnish: kallistua — to be drawn to one side by weight or influence
• German: sich verziehen — to be drawn to one side by weight or influence
• Slovak: prevažovať — to be drawn to one side by weight or influence
• Finnish: vaikuttaa — to have weight or influence
• French: influencer — to have weight or influence
• German: beeinflussen — to have weight or influence
• Bulgarian: властвам (vlastvam) — to bear sway; to rule; to govern
• Finnish: hallita — to bear sway; to rule; to govern
• German: sich durchsetzen — to bear sway; to rule; to govern
• German: herrschen — to bear sway; to rule; to govern
• German: regieren — to bear sway; to rule; to govern