sich winden
to writhe
To twist the body violently from side to side, especially because of pain or because one is being held.
EXAMPLE
Der Fisch wand sich heftig am Haken.
The fish writhed violently on the hook.
winden
to wind
winden – wand – hat gewunden
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Meanings
sich winden
to wind
To run in many curves or bends. For climbing plants, it also means to twist around a support as they grow.
EXAMPLE
Die Bergstraße windet sich in engen Kurven nach oben.
The mountain road winds upward in tight curves.
sich winden
to evade
To try to avoid an unpleasant question, a clear statement, or an obligation by making excuses.
EXAMPLE
Als sie ihn nach seiner Verantwortung fragte, wand er sich und gab keine klare Antwort.
When she asked him about his responsibility, he evaded the question and gave no clear answer.
winden
to wind around
To wrap something around someone or something in loops or coils.
EXAMPLE
Sie wand ein rotes Band um den Blumenstrauß.
She wound a red ribbon around the bouquet.
sich aus etwas winden
to wriggle out of something
To free oneself from a grip or another form of physical restraint through skillful twisting and movement.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind wand sich aus dem Griff seines Bruders.
The child wriggled out of his brother's grip.
winden
to weave
To intertwine or interlace flexible parts so that they form a wreath or something similar.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder wanden einen Kranz aus Weidenzweigen und Blumen.
The children wove a wreath from willow branches and flowers.
winden
to winch
To lift or pull a load using a winch.
EXAMPLE
Die Arbeiter wanden die schwere Last mit einer Handwinde in die Höhe.
The workers winched the heavy load upward with a hand winch.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry winden, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | winde |
|---|---|
| du | windest |
| er/sie/es | windet |
| wir | winden |
| ihr | windet |
| sie | winden |
Simple past
| ich | wand |
|---|---|
| du | wandest wandst |
| er/sie/es | wand windete |
| wir | wanden |
| ihr | wandet |
| sie | wanden windeten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe gewunden |
|---|---|
| du | hast gewunden |
| er/sie/es | hat gewunden hat gewindet |
| wir | haben gewunden |
| ihr | habt gewunden |
| sie | haben gewunden haben gewindet |
Commands
| du | winde! wind! |
|---|---|
| ihr | windet! |
| Sie | winden Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte gewunden |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gewunden |
| er/sie/es | hatte gewunden hatte gewindet |
| wir | hatten gewunden |
| ihr | hattet gewunden |
| sie | hatten gewunden hatten gewindet |
Future
| ich | werde winden |
|---|---|
| du | wirst winden |
| er/sie/es | wird winden |
| wir | werden winden |
| ihr | werdet winden |
| sie | werden winden |
Subjunctive I
| ich | winde |
|---|---|
| du | windest |
| er/sie/es | winde |
| wir | winden |
| ihr | windet |
| sie | winden |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | wände |
|---|---|
| du | wändest |
| er/sie/es | wände windete |
| wir | wänden |
| ihr | wändet |
| sie | wänden windeten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | winden |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu winden |
| present participle | windend |
| past participle | gewunden |
Usage tips
Typical collocation
In its physical sense, 'sich winden' (to writhe) is often used with 'vor Schmerzen' (in pain / from pain). The preposition 'vor' indicates the reason for the violent movements.
EXAMPLE
Der Patient wand sich vor starken Rückenschmerzen im Bett.
The patient writhed in bed from severe back pain.
Routes and plants
For paths, rivers, or roads, 'sich winden' (to wind) is often used with 'durch' (through) and an accusative noun. For climbing plants, 'sich um' (to wind around) with the accusative describes what the plant twists around.
EXAMPLE
Die Straße windet sich durch einen dichten Wald.
The road winds through a dense forest.
Die Bohnenpflanze windet sich um das Holzgestell.
The bean plant winds around the wooden frame.
Question situations
In its figurative sense, the verb is almost always reflexive and is often used in connection with questions or an unpleasant conversation. The person who evades the question remains the subject.
EXAMPLE
Bei den Fragen nach den Kosten wand sich der Minister wie ein Aal.
When asked about the costs, the minister was as slippery as an eel.
Reflexive construction
When someone wraps something around their own body, the person is in the dative: 'sich etwas um den Hals, Arm oder Körper winden' (to wind something around one's neck, arm, or body). The material or item of clothing is the accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Er wand sich ein Tuch um den Kopf, weil es kalt geworden war.
He wound a cloth around his head because it had gotten cold.
Aus construction
When freeing oneself from physical restraint, 'sich aus' (to wriggle out of) is used with the dative. After 'aus', the complement refers to the grip, embrace, or tight space.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund wand sich aus dem lockeren Geschirr.
The dog wriggled out of the loose harness.
Specifying the material
When making a wreath or a similar object, the material is often introduced with 'aus' (from / out of) and the dative. The object being made is the accusative object of 'winden' (to weave).
EXAMPLE
Zum Erntedankfest wanden die Frauen eine Girlande aus Getreideähren.
For the harvest festival, the women wove a garland from ears of grain.
Specifying the tool
In its technical sense, the tool is often introduced with 'mit' (with) and the dative. Typical phrases include 'mit einer Winde' (with a winch) or 'mit einer Handwinde' (with a hand winch).
EXAMPLE
Die Fischer wanden ihr Boot mit einer Seilwinde an den Strand.
The fishermen winched their boat onto the beach with a cable winch.
In real life
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