German word

entspannen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛntˈʃpanən/

Meaning

  • verbrelax

Example

Am Wochenende entspannt er gern.

He likes to relax on weekends.

Illustration for entspannen (relax)

More examples

Nach der Arbeit entspannt er sich oft beim Lesen.

After work, he often relaxes while reading.

Core concept

A tight spring or tense body eases until it feels loose and at rest.

Common phrases

  • sich entspannen

    relax

  • nach der Arbeit entspannen

    relax after work

  • bei einer Massage entspannen

    relax during a massage

Similar words

sich erholen: To restore strength and composure after strain or exhaustion.
ausruhen: To relax the body through rest and ease its tiredness.
abschalten: To mentally disconnect from duties or worries and rest.
relaxen: To relax in a laid-back, informal manner.

Definition in German

Etwas oder sich weniger gespannt machen; Ruhe oder Lockerheit herstellen.

Word origin

Entspannen combines the separative prefix ent- with Germanic spannen, 'to stretch or tighten'; it developed from releasing physical tension to becoming relaxed.

Usage tips

  • For a person's own state, German normally uses sich entspannen, as in Er entspannt sich; a cause of relaxation can be the subject, as in Musik entspannt ihn.

Other meanings

  • loosenverb

Opposites

  • anspannentense upverb
  • verkrampfenstiffen upverb

Related words

Word lists with this word