German word

schleudern

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃlɔʏ̯dɐn/

Meaning

  • verbthrow

Example

Sie schleudert den Stock weit.

She throws the stick a long way.

Illustration for schleudern (throw)

More examples

Die Maschine schleudert die Wäsche in wenigen Minuten trocken.

The machine spin-dries the laundry in a few minutes.

Core concept

A spinning force flings something outward, from water leaving laundry to a vehicle sliding sideways.

Common phrases

  • die Wäsche schleudern

    spin-dry the laundry

  • schleudern den Gegner zu Boden

    hurl the opponent to the ground

Similar words

werfen: Throws something by hand toward a person or place.
schmeißen: Throws something away with considerable force.

Definition in German

Etwas durch schnelle Drehbewegung und Fliehkraft von innen nach außen befördern; auch im Sinne von heftig wegwerfen oder beim seitlichen Ausbrechen eines Fahrzeugs gebräuchlich.

Word origin

The verb goes back to Middle High German slūdern and is related to Schleuder, meaning sling, with spinning and skidding uses developing from forceful flinging.

Usage tips

  • In washing-machine contexts, Wäsche schleudern means spin-dry, not throw laundry.

Other meanings

  • spin-dryverb
  • skidverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Schleudergangspin cyclenoun
  • geschleudertflungadjective

Word lists with this word