to scent / sense
Loading your saved state.
to scent
To perceive something with the sense of smell. This is mainly used in connection with animals that smell a trail, prey, or danger.
Der Jagdhund witterte ein Wildschwein im dichten Gebüsch.
The hunting dog scented a wild boar in the dense bushes.
The verb 'wittern' (to scent/sense) almost always requires a direct object in the accusative. You always scent or sense 'something' or 'someone'.
Der Fuchs witterte die Gefahr und versteckte sich.
The fox sensed the danger and hid.
You can recognize the meaning from the subject: if an animal is the subject, it is usually about the real sense of smell. If a human is the subject, it is almost always about an inkling or suspicion in the figurative sense.
Der Bär witterte den Rauch des Lagerfeuers.
The bear scented the smoke from the campfire.
In connection with animals, 'wittern' (to scent) is often combined with the objects 'Beute' (prey), 'Gefahr' (danger), or 'eine Fährte' (a scent trail).
Der Wolf witterte seine Beute aus weiter Entfernung.
The wolf scented its prey from far away.
In the figurative meaning for people, typical objects are abstract things like 'eine Chance' (an opportunity), 'ein gutes Geschäft' (a good deal), 'Verrat' (betrayal), or 'eine Intrige' (an intrigue/plot).
Als Investor witterte er sofort eine einmalige Chance.
As an investor, he immediately sensed a unique opportunity.
to feel / sense
'spüren' and 'wittern' can both express that you sense something or notice a danger. 'spüren' is neutral and general: you can sense a mood, uncertainty, or that something is wrong. 'wittern' is more specific. Literally, it is often used for animals that smell something. Figuratively, it means that someone senses an opportunity, danger, or suspicion. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with an inkling. 'spüren' fits many situations, while 'wittern' sounds stronger and often somewhat figurative.
Der Hund witterte eine Spur und lief plötzlich zum Wald.
The dog scented a trail and suddenly ran toward the forest.
Schon beim Betreten des Raums spürte er, dass die Stimmung schlecht war.
As soon as he entered the room, he sensed that the mood was bad.