to dismiss / discharge
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to fire
To terminate someone's job; to end an employment relationship.
Die Firma musste wegen der schlechten Auftragslage zwanzig Mitarbeiter entlassen.
Because of the poor order situation, the company had to fire twenty employees.
to discharge
To allow someone to leave an institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the military.
Nach einer Woche Beobachtung wurde der Patient aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen.
After a week of observation, the patient was discharged from the hospital.
to dismiss
To allow a group of people (e.g., a school class) to leave; to end a lesson or event.
Der Lehrer entließ die Schüler fünf Minuten früher in die Pause.
The teacher dismissed the students for the break five minutes early.
The verb 'entlassen' (to dismiss/discharge/fire) is inseparable. The prefix 'ent-' remains firmly attached to the stem 'lassen' in all sentence forms and tenses and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
Die Firma entlässt viele Angestellte.
The company is dismissing many employees.
'Entlassen' (to dismiss/discharge/fire) is always used with an accusative object. You ask: Wen oder was entlässt jemand? (Whom or what does someone dismiss/discharge/fire?) This pattern applies to all meanings of the word.
Der Chef entlässt seinen Mitarbeiter.
The boss fires his employee.
The context makes clear which meaning is intended. If it is about a company or work, it means 'kündigen' (to fire/terminate). In connection with a hospital or prison, it means 'gehen lassen' (to let go/release). In a school context, it means to end the lesson.
Wegen der Krise entlässt der Automobilkonzern 500 Leute.
Because of the crisis, the car company is firing 500 people.
In the meaning 'jemandem kündigen' (to fire someone), 'entlassen' belongs to formal or official language, especially in written language. It is the official term in employment contracts and news reports.
Dem Manager wurde fristlos entlassen.
The manager was dismissed without notice.
When someone leaves an institution, 'entlassen' is almost always used with the preposition 'aus' + dative. Typical phrases are 'aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen' (discharged from the hospital) or 'aus der Haft entlassen' (released from custody).
Er wurde nach zehn Jahren aus dem Gefängnis entlassen.
He was released from prison after ten years.
to say goodbye / to pass
At the end of a lesson or event, entlassen and verabschieden can both be used when a group is leaving. Entlassen emphasizes that the group is now allowed to leave, while verabschieden highlights the personal farewell. Use entlassen for permission to leave and verabschieden for gestures or words of farewell.
Nach dem letzten Unterricht entließ die Lehrerin die Klasse.
After the last lesson, the teacher dismissed the class.
Nach dem letzten Unterricht verabschiedete sich die Lehrerin von der Klasse.
After the last lesson, the teacher said goodbye to the class.
