to lead away / pay
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to lead away
To lead a person, especially someone who has been arrested or a prisoner, away from a place by force.
Die Polizei konnte den Verdächtigen festnehmen und abführen.
The police were able to arrest the suspect and lead him away.
to pay
To pay an amount of money owed, such as taxes or social security contributions, to the responsible authority, for example the tax office or health insurance fund.
Jeder Arbeitgeber muss für seine Angestellten Sozialversicherungsbeiträge abführen.
Every employer has to pay social security contributions for their employees.
to have a laxative effect
To have a bowel-emptying effect or promote bowel movements. Often used in connection with foods or medications.
Bestimmte Teesorten können eine leicht abführende Wirkung haben.
Certain types of tea can have a mild laxative effect.
to conduct away
In technical contexts, to deliberately conduct or drain heat, liquid, or gases away from a place.
Ein guter Kühlkörper muss die entstehende Wärme schnell vom Prozessor abführen.
A good heat sink must quickly conduct the heat produced away from the processor.
'Abführen' is a separable verb. In main clauses, the prefix 'ab-' stands at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu,' the verb stays together.
Die Polizei führt den Dieb ab.
The police lead the thief away.
The verb consists of the prefix 'ab-' (away) and 'führen' (to lead, to guide). The basic idea is always that something is 'led away' from a place: a person, money, heat, or intestinal contents.
Der Schornstein führt den Rauch sicher ab.
The chimney safely carries the smoke away.
You can almost always recognize the meaning of 'abführen' from the object. If it is a person, it is about an arrest. With money, it is about taxes. With heat or liquids, it is about technology.
Der Täter wurde sofort abgeführt.
The perpetrator was led away immediately.
In the financial meaning, 'abführen' is almost always used with words like 'Steuern' (taxes), 'Abgaben' (levies/contributions), or 'Beiträge' (contributions). The tax office or health insurance fund is often named as the recipient.
Die Mehrwertsteuer wird direkt an das Finanzamt abgeführt.
The value-added tax is paid directly to the tax office.
In a medical context, 'abführen' can also be used without an object or appear as the adjective 'abführend' (laxative). It then describes the effect of a food or medication.
Pflaumen können abführend wirken.
Plums can have a laxative effect.
to derive / divert / differentiate
When referring to heat, liquids, or gases, both words can describe removing them from a system. „Ableiten“ emphasizes the intended route or outlet, while „abführen“ focuses more strongly on deliberate removal. If the route through a pipe or other channel is important, „ableiten“ is the better choice; if the focus is on relieving or removing something, „abführen“ is more suitable.
Der Ventilator führt die Wärme aus dem kleinen Raum ab.
The fan removes the heat from the small room.
Das Rohr leitet die Wärme vom Motor in die Außenluft ab.
The pipe conducts heat away from the engine and into the outside air.
