detour
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detour
A route to a destination that is longer or more complicated than the direct or usual route. A detour often becomes necessary because of an obstacle such as roadworks.
Wegen der gesperrten Brücke mussten wir einen großen Umweg fahren.
Because of the closed bridge, we had to take a long detour.
indirect route
In a figurative sense, an indirect or complicated way of achieving or doing something.
Er hat sein Ziel nur über Umwege und mit viel Geduld erreicht.
He achieved his goal only by indirect routes and with a lot of patience.
'Umweg' (detour) is made up of the preposition 'um' (around) and the noun 'der Weg' (way/path). So it literally describes a route that goes around an obstacle.
Ein umgefallener Baum zwang uns zu einem Umweg durch den Wald.
A fallen tree forced us to take a detour through the forest.
In the literal sense, 'Umweg' (detour) is often combined with verbs of movement. Typical phrases are 'einen Umweg fahren' (to drive a detour), 'einen Umweg gehen' (to walk a detour), or 'einen Umweg machen' (to make/take a detour).
Ich nehme lieber einen kleinen Umweg, um den Stau zu vermeiden.
I'd rather take a small detour to avoid the traffic jam.
In the figurative meaning, the expression 'über Umwege' is very common. It means 'indirectly' or 'not by the direct route.'
Ich habe nur über Umwege von der Neuigkeit erfahren.
I only found out about the news indirectly.
detour / redirection
Both words refer to traveling along a different route. Die Umleitung is the traffic route that has been set up and is often signposted, while der Umweg refers to the additional or longer route itself. When talking about the official route, use „Umleitung“; when referring to your own longer journey, use „Umweg.“
Wegen der Baustelle müssen wir einen Umweg fahren.
Because of the roadworks, we have to take a detour.
Wegen der Baustelle folgt der Verkehr einer ausgeschilderten Umleitung.
Because of the roadworks, traffic is following a signposted detour.
