verb

wallen

billow

Sich in großen, weichen Bewegungen heben und senken oder stark und unruhig vorwärtsgehen.

The verb wallen is a descriptive term in German that is primarily used to describe movement. It can have two main nuances:

To undulate or flow: It describes a soft, billowing, or wave-like movement, often used for fluids, vapors, smoke, or large pieces of fabric (like curtains or flowing garments).
To seethe or boil (archaic/poetic): It can describe a liquid that is moving in a turbulent or bubbling manner, similar to boiling. It is also used metaphorically to describe strong, rising emotions or passions within a person (e.g., "Es wallte in ihm auf").
To wander (archaic): In older German or literary contexts, it refers to traveling, specifically going on a pilgrimage (Wallfahrt).

Grammar: It is a weak verb. Its forms are: wallen (infinitive), wallte (past tense), hat gewallt (perfect). It is an intransitive verb.
Origin: The word originates from the Middle High German wallen, which initially meant to bubble or boil. It is related to the Germanic root wellan (to turn, to roll), which is also the ancestor of the word Welle (wave) and the English word "well" (as in a spring of water).

Synonyms:

Wogen : To surge or billow, very common for waves or fabric.
Strömen : To stream or flow, used for liquids or crowds.
Wandern : To wander or hike, specifically when referring to the pilgrimage aspect of wallen.
Sieden : To boil or seethe, used for the physical state of liquids.
Schwingen : To swing or sway, used for motion.

Antonyms:

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Nebel wallen über das Tal.verb

Mists billow over the valley.

Dichter Rauch wallte aus dem Fenster.verb

Thick smoke billowed out of the window.

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