wegnehmen
to take away
To take something away from someone or remove it from them, often against their will.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer hat dem Schüler das Handy weggenommen.
The teacher took the student's phone away.
wegnehmen
to take away
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Meanings
wegnehmen
to take away
To remove something from a place.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte die schmutzigen Teller vom Tisch wegnehmen?
Could you please take the dirty plates away from the table?
wegnehmen
to take up
To use up or occupy space or time.
EXAMPLE
Das große Sofa nimmt zu viel Platz im Wohnzimmer weg.
The large sofa takes up too much space in the living room.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Wegnehmen' (to take away) is a separable verb. The prefix 'weg-' goes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Nimm bitte deine Füße vom Tisch weg!
Please take your feet off the table!
Meaning of the prefix
The prefix 'weg-' always means a movement away or removal. It indicates that something disappears from a place, from a person, or out of a situation.
EXAMPLE
Der Wind nahm ihm den Hut vom Kopf weg.
The wind took his hat away from his head.
Dative construction
When you take something away from someone, the person from whom something is taken is always in the dative. The object that is taken away is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Die Mutter nimmt dem Kind das Spielzeug weg.
The mother takes the toy away from the child.
Abstract use
'Wegnehmen' (to take away) can also be used abstractly. Typical combinations are 'Platz wegnehmen' (to take up space), 'Zeit wegnehmen' (to take up time), or 'die Sicht wegnehmen' (to block the view).
EXAMPLE
Der große Schrank nimmt dem Zimmer viel Licht weg.
The large cabinet takes away a lot of light from the room.
Compare with
wegnehmen vs entziehen
to withdraw / revoke
Entziehen and wegnehmen can both mean that someone no longer has something. Entziehen is especially common with rights, permits, or a regulated process. Wegnehmen is more general and often refers to physically taking an object, even against the person’s will.
wegnehmen
Der Polizist nimmt ihm bei der Kontrolle die Führerscheinkarte kurz weg.
During the check, the police officer briefly takes his driver's license card away.
entziehen
Die Behörde entzieht ihm wegen des Verstoßes die Fahrerlaubnis.
Because of the violation, the authorities revoke his driver's license.
In real life
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