Etymology

Cognate with Old Saxon swīgon (Middle Dutch swīghen, Dutch zwijgen), Old High German swīgēn (German schweigen is from the causative form sweigen), apparently from an Proto-Indo-European root *su̯īk- or *su̯īg- (possibly also in Greek σιγή ‎(sigḗ)), which would most likely represent an extension of the root *su̯ī "to dwindle; cease" (whence OHG swintan "dwindle, fade").

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswiːɣiɑn/