hetzen
to rush
To hurry a lot or urge someone to hurry, often in a stressful and frantic way.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss jetzt hetzen, um den Zug noch zu erwischen.
I have to rush now to still catch the train.
hetzen
to rush / to incite
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Meanings
hetzen gegen
to incite against
To deliberately spread negative sentiment, hatred, or hostility against a person or group.
EXAMPLE
Die Zeitung wurde kritisiert, weil sie gegen die Minderheit hetzte.
The newspaper was criticized because it incited hatred against the minority.
hetzen
to hunt
To hunt animals, especially game, with the help of dogs.
EXAMPLE
Früher hetzten die Adligen mit ihren Hundemeuten Füchse durch die Wälder.
In the past, nobles hunted foxes through the forests with their packs of dogs.
Usage tips
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning of 'hetzen' from the context. If it is about time pressure, it means 'sich beeilen' (to hurry). If the word appears with 'gegen' (against) and a group of people, it means 'Hass verbreiten' (to spread hatred). In connection with animals and hunting, the original meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Er hetzte zum Termin, weil er schon spät dran war.
He rushed to the appointment because he was already running late.
Use with stress
When 'hetzen' means 'sich beeilen' (to hurry), it always also expresses great stress and urgency. It is stronger than 'sich beeilen' and can also be used transitively to express that you are pushing someone to hurry.
EXAMPLE
Hetz mich nicht so, ich brauche noch fünf Minuten!
Don't rush me like that; I still need five minutes!
Fixed preposition
In the meaning 'Hass verbreiten' (to spread hatred), 'hetzen' is always used with the preposition 'gegen' (against) and the accusative. This structure is a clear signal for this negative meaning.
EXAMPLE
Der Redner hetzte in seiner Rede gegen die Regierung.
The speaker incited against the government in his speech.
Specific context
The meaning 'jagen' (to hunt) is rare today and is used almost only in the specific context of hunting or in historical descriptions.
EXAMPLE
In alten Geschichten wird oft beschrieben, wie Wölfe die Rehe hetzen.
Old stories often describe how wolves hunt deer.
Compare with
hetzen vs rennen
to run
Rennen and hetzen can both express the idea of trying to reach a destination quickly. Rennen emphasizes fast movement, while hetzen also conveys pressure and a stressed, frantic manner. Use rennen for moving at high speed and hetzen when the situation seems particularly hectic.
hetzen
Ich muss zum Bus hetzen, weil er gleich abfährt und ich schon spät bin.
I have to rush to the bus because it is about to leave and I am already late.
rennen
Ich muss zum Bus rennen, weil er gleich abfährt.
I have to run to the bus because it is about to leave.
In real life
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