flüchten

to flee, to escape

verb FLUE-khten Rare

Usage Note

flüchten is used for a criminal fleeing the scene (vom Tatort flüchten) as well as for people seeking refuge. Fluchtgefahr (risk of flight) is a key criterion for ordering Untersuchungshaft.

Examples

"Der Täter flüchtete zu Fuß in Richtung Bahnhof."

Natural Translation

The perpetrator fled on foot towards the station.

Literal Translation

The perpetrator fled on foot in direction station.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

How to Tell Time in German Without Mistakes

Halb sieben means 6:30, not 7:30. Master telling time in German — Viertel nach, halb, vor, the 24-hour clock, and the prepositions that trip up beginners.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Colors: Names, Shades, and Idioms

German colors are adjectives that take endings — say das rote Auto, not das rot Auto. Get the names, shades, the das-Rot rule, and 14 color idioms.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Word Order: The Verb Rules That Trip You Up

German word order comes down to three verb-position rules: the verb is second in main clauses, last after weil and dass, and time comes before place.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German False Friends: 25 Words That Trick You

German false friends like Gift (poison) and bekommen (to receive) trick English speakers daily. Here are 25 words that mean the opposite of what you'd guess.

June 5, 2026 5 min read