to smuggle
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to smuggle
To secretly and illegally bring goods across a national border in order to avoid customs duties, taxes, or import bans.
Sie wurden dabei erwischt, wie sie versuchten, teure Uhren über die Grenze zu schmuggeln.
They were caught trying to smuggle expensive watches across the border.
to smuggle
In a figurative sense, to secretly and without permission bring something or someone to a place or remove them from there.
Die Schüler schmuggelten während des Unterrichts Süßigkeiten unter dem Tisch.
The students smuggled sweets under the table during class.
to sneak
To move secretly, unnoticed, and often without permission into a place or past something.
Er konnte sich an der Security vorbei in den Backstage-Bereich schmuggeln.
He was able to sneak past security into the backstage area.
The basic structure is: someone smuggles something (accusative) to a place. The place is often introduced with a preposition such as 'über' (over/across), 'durch' (through), 'in' (into), or 'nach' (to).
Er versuchte, ein seltenes Tier durch den Zoll zu schmuggeln.
He tried to smuggle a rare animal through customs.
When the verb is used reflexively with 'sich' (oneself), it means that a person secretly moves themselves to a place. The subject and the accusative object are then identical.
Die Jugendlichen haben sich ohne Eintrittskarte ins Kino geschmuggelt.
The teenagers sneaked into the cinema without a ticket.
In its main meaning, 'schmuggeln' (to smuggle) is often combined with illegal goods. Typical objects are 'Zigaretten' (cigarettes), 'Drogen' (drugs), 'Alkohol' (alcohol), or 'Geld' (money). A common context is crossing a border.
Die Bande hat jahrelang Zigaretten über die Grenze geschmuggelt.
The gang smuggled cigarettes across the border for years.
In the figurative sense, 'schmuggeln' (to smuggle) is used for everyday, harmless situations in which you secretly bring something to a place where it is not allowed.
Ich habe mir eine Flasche Wasser in den Konzertsaal geschmuggelt.
I smuggled a bottle of water into the concert hall.
to sneak
Both words can describe moving unnoticed past a place or a checkpoint. Schleichen emphasizes moving quietly and cautiously. Sich schmuggeln places greater emphasis on secretly and often unlawfully getting past a checkpoint or into a place. Choose schleichen for the movement and sich schmuggeln for passing by covertly.
Der Besucher schmuggelte sich heimlich an der Kontrolle vorbei.
The visitor secretly sneaked past the checkpoint.
Der Besucher schlich leise an der schlafenden Wache vorbei.
The visitor quietly sneaked past the sleeping guard.
