verb

erwischen

catch

Jemanden oder etwas in dem Moment finden oder sehen, wenn er oder es gerade etwas tut oder irgendwo ist.

Definition & meaning

The verb erwischen is commonly used in German with two primary meanings:

To catch or capture: This refers to physically grabbing someone or something, or successfully apprehending a person who is trying to escape or hide (e.g., catching a thief or a child playing hide-and-seek).
To catch (an opportunity or transport): This is used when you manage to reach something in time, such as catching a train or a bus, or grabbing an opportunity when it arises.
To catch someone in the act: It is frequently used when discovering someone doing something they should not be doing (e.g., catching someone stealing or lying).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

Type: Weak verb.
Conjugation: erwischt (3rd person singular present), erwischte (simple past), hat erwischt (present perfect).
It is a separable verb in some regional dialects, but generally treated as an inseparable verb in standard German.

Word origin: The word is composed of the prefix er- (indicating the successful completion of an action) and wischen. While wischen today primarily means "to wipe," its etymological root relates to sudden, quick movements. Thus, erwischen implies a sudden, successful reach or capture.