entführen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German entvüeren (also enphüeren), from Old High German intfuoren. By surface analysis, ent- +‎ führen, literally to lead off, to take away. Formed similarly to Latin abducere, but the Old High German translates other Latin verbs, so a calque must remain speculative. Compare Dutch ontvoeren.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛntˈfyːrən/, [ʔɛntˈfyː.ʁən], [-ˈfyː.ɐn], [-ˈfy(ː)ɐ̯n]
  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)
  • Hyphenation: ent‧füh‧ren

Verb

entführen (weak, third-person singular present entführt, past tense entführte, past participle entführt, auxiliary haben) (transitive)

  1. to abduct, kidnap, seize (a person or animal)
    Synonyms: verschleppen, kidnappen
    ein Kind entführento kidnap a child
  2. to hijack (a vehicle)
    Synonym: kapern
    ein Flugzeug entführento hijack an airplane
  3. (figurative) to seize (someone's mind), to lead (someone's thoughts) astray, to take (someone) to some memory or imaginative place
    Ihr Gesang entführte mich in die verlorene Welt meiner Vorfahren.
    Her singing took me back to the lost world of my ancestors.

Conjugation

Derived terms

Further reading