01
entfernt
distant
Far away in terms of spatial distance.
example
Der Bahnhof ist nur wenige hundert Meter von hier entfernt.
The train station is only a few hundred meters from here.
entfernt
distant / removed
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Participle as adjective
'Entfernt' (distant / removed) is the past participle of the verb 'entfernen' (to remove). When something 'entfernt' (removed) has been, it is no longer near, but at a certain distance. This is how the meaning 'far away' developed.
EXAMPLE
Das Ziel unserer Wanderung ist nicht mehr weit entfernt.
The destination of our hike is not far away anymore.
Sentence structure for distance
To indicate a spatial distance, the structure '[distance] entfernt' is used. The starting point is often added with the preposition 'von' (from).
EXAMPLE
Die nächste Stadt ist 20 Kilometer von hier entfernt.
The next town is 20 kilometers from here.
Degree of kinship
In the combination 'entfernt verwandt' (distantly related) or as an adjective before a person (e.g., 'ein entfernter Verwandter' (a distant relative)), it expresses that the family relationship is not close or direct.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe einen entfernten Cousin, der in Australien lebt.
I have a distant cousin who lives in Australia.
Figurative meaning
'Entfernt' (remote/distant) can also describe a slight similarity or a vague connection. Typical combinations are 'eine entfernte Ähnlichkeit' (a remote similarity) or 'im entferntesten Sinne' (in the remotest sense).
EXAMPLE
Die beiden Produkte haben nur eine entfernte Ähnlichkeit miteinander.
The two products have only a remote similarity to each other.
Temporal distance
In combination with time-related words such as 'Zukunft' (future) or 'Vergangenheit' (past), 'entfernt' (distant) describes a point in time that is far away.
EXAMPLE
Raumreisen zu anderen Sternen sind noch in entfernter Zukunft.
Space travel to other stars is still in the distant future.
Compare with
entfernt vs weit
far / wide
'weit' and 'entfernt' can both say that there is a large distance between two places. 'weit' describes the distance more generally: a destination is 'weit weg' (far away) or a path is 'weit' (long/far). 'entfernt' more strongly describes the location of one place in relation to another place. That is why it often appears with a detail like 'zehn Kilometer entfernt' (ten kilometers away) or 'von der Stadt entfernt' (away from the city). 'weit' is simpler and more broadly usable in everyday language. 'entfernt' sounds more precise when you want to say how far away something is.
entfernt
Das Hotel liegt nur zwei Kilometer vom Strand entfernt.
The hotel is only two kilometers from the beach.
weit
Der See ist nicht weit, wir können zu Fuß hingehen.
The lake is not far; we can walk there.
In real life
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