01
entweichen
to leak
For gases, liquids, or air: to come out or flow out of a container or an enclosed space.
example
Aus dem undichten Reifen ist langsam die Luft entwichen.
Air slowly leaked out of the punctured tire.
entweichen
to escape / to leak
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Entweichen' (to escape / to leak) is an inseparable verb with the prefix 'ent-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb 'weichen' (to yield / give way) in all sentence forms and indicates movement 'away from something'.
EXAMPLE
Er bemerkte, dass Gas aus dem Ofen entwich.
He noticed that gas was escaping from the stove.
Perfect tense with 'sein'
Since 'entweichen' (to escape / to leak) describes movement or a change of state, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). The past participle is 'entwichen'.
EXAMPLE
Die ganze Luft ist aus dem Ballon entwichen.
All the air has leaked out of the balloon.
Correct preposition
To indicate the place of origin from which something escapes or leaks, the preposition 'aus' (from / out of) with the dative is almost always used.
EXAMPLE
Rauch entwich aus dem Schornstein.
Smoke escaped from the chimney.
Context clue
The meaning can easily be recognized from the subject. If it refers to gases, liquids, or air, it means flowing out or leaking. If it refers to people or animals, it means escape.
EXAMPLE
Aus der Flasche entwich ein seltsamer Geruch.
A strange smell escaped from the bottle.
Register
When 'entweichen' (to escape) is used for people or animals, it often sounds elevated, literary, or official. It emphasizes secretly disappearing unnoticed.
EXAMPLE
Der Dieb entwich durch ein offenes Fenster in der Dunkelheit.
The thief escaped through an open window into the darkness.
Compare with
entweichen vs fliehen
to flee
'fliehen' and 'entweichen' can both mean that a person or animal leaves a place in order to get away. 'fliehen' is the normal word for people in danger or under pressure. 'entweichen' sounds rather elevated or literary when used for people or animals, and often emphasizes that someone escapes unnoticed. In everyday language, you almost always say 'fliehen'. 'entweichen' fits more in reports, stories, or when talking about animals, especially if the escape seems quieter or more secretive.
entweichen
Dem Tier gelang es, aus dem Käfig zu entweichen.
The animal managed to escape from the cage.
fliehen
Bei dem Unfall konnten alle Fahrgäste rechtzeitig aus dem Bus fliehen.
In the accident, all the passengers were able to flee from the bus in time.
In real life
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