die  Flucht

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/flʊxt/

🏃‍♀️ What does "die Flucht" mean?

Die Flucht (feminine) primarily means the (rapid) act of leaving a place to escape danger, threat, or coercion. It can be a planned or spontaneous action.

• Main meaning: The escape, fleeing, breakout (e.g., Flucht from persecution, Flucht from prison).
• Other meaning (less common, architectural): A straight line or row, an alignment of building components (e.g., "Die Fenster stehen in einer Flucht." - The windows are aligned.). This meaning is less common in everyday language.

🚨 Attention: Do not confuse with "der Fluch" (the curse).

📏 Grammar in Detail: Die Flucht

The noun "Flucht" is feminine. The article is "die".

📝 Example Sentences

• Die Familie plante ihre Flucht aus dem Kriegsgebiet sorgfältig. (The family carefully planned their escape from the war zone.)
• Der Dieb ergriff nach dem Raub die Flucht. (The thief fled after the robbery.)
• Viele Menschen sind weltweit auf der Flucht. (Many people worldwide are fleeing / are refugees.)
• Die Architektin achtete darauf, dass die Säulen in einer perfekten Flucht standen. (The architect made sure the columns stood in perfect alignment - rare meaning.)

🌐 How to use "die Flucht"?

"Die Flucht" is mainly used in the context of danger, coercion, or unpleasant situations one wants to escape from.

• Typical Contexts: War, persecution (political, religious, etc.), natural disasters, captivity, poverty, but also metaphorically escaping from responsibility or problems.
• Fixed Expressions:
  • die Flucht ergreifen: to take flight, to flee, to run away
  • jemanden in die Flucht schlagen: to put someone to flight, to rout someone
  • auf der Flucht sein: to be on the run, to be fleeing
• Distinction: While "die Reise" (journey, trip) is often voluntary and positive, "die Flucht" is almost always forced and has negative connotations. "Der Ausflug" (excursion, outing) is short and for pleasure.

🧠 Memory Aids for "die Flucht"

Article Mnemonic: Most nouns ending in -ucht are feminine (die Bucht - bay, die Sucht - addiction, die Zucht - breeding). Remember: Die Flucht ends in -t, but the common ending -ucht helps with "die". Or imagine: She has to make a swift Flucht (escape).

Meaning Mnemonic: "Flucht" sounds a bit like the English word "fleet" (as in fleet-footed). You need to be fleet-footed for a quick Flucht.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Der Fluch (pl. die Flüche): the curse. Completely different meaning!

😂 A Little Joke

Richter: "Angeklagter, warum sind Sie aus dem Gefängnis geflohen?"
Angeklagter: "Ich wollte heiraten, Herr Richter!"
Richter: "Hm, Sie haben eine seltsame Vorstellung von Freiheit!"

Judge: "Defendant, why did you escape from prison?"
Defendant: "I wanted to get married, Your Honor!"
Judge: "Hmm, you have a strange idea of freedom!"

📜 Poem about Flucht

Der Schatten naht, die Angst erwacht,
Ein leiser Schritt in dunkler Nacht.
Die Heimat fern, das Ziel ungewiss,
Die Flucht beginnt, ein Herzensriss.
Vorbei an Mauern, über Land,
Getrieben von unsichtbarer Hand.
Ein Hoffnungsfunken, klein und zart,
Auf dieser langen, schweren Fahrt.

The shadow nears, fear comes awake,
A quiet step in night's dark make.
Home far away, the goal unknown,
The flight begins, a heart is torn.
Past walls it goes, across the land,
Driven by an unseen hand.
A spark of hope, both small and frail,
On this long journey's arduous trail.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin oft schnell und voller Hast,
Getrieben von Gefahr und Last.
Man ergreift mich, ist man in Not,
Ich rette manchmal vor dem Tod.
In Gebäuden bin ich auch ein Strang,
Ein gerader Weg, ein langer Gang.

Was bin ich?

I am often swift and full of haste,
Driven by danger and waste.
One grabs me when in need's harsh plea,
Sometimes I save from death's decree.
In buildings, I'm also a line so long,
A straight path, where things align along.

What am I?

Solution: die Flucht (the escape, the alignment)

💡 Other Information about Flucht

• Etymology: The word "Flucht" is closely related to the verb "fliehen" (to flee) and also to "fliegen" (to fly). It signifies rapid movement away from something.
• Compound Words: There are many compound words (Komposita) with "Flucht", e.g.:
  • der Fluchtweg: An escape route (e.g., for fire emergencies).
  • das Fluchtauto: A getaway car (often used after a crime).
  • die Fluchtgefahr: The risk that someone might flee (e.g., a suspect).
  • die Massenflucht: Mass exodus, when many people flee simultaneously.
  • die Landflucht: Rural exodus, migration from the countryside to the city.
  • die Fahrerflucht / Unfallflucht: Hit-and-run (leaving the scene of an accident without authorization).