verb

umleiten

divert · redirect

Definition & meaning

umleiten means to redirect or reroute something by sending it along a different path or to a different destination.

It is commonly used for traffic, water, calls, messages, or data. For example, traffic may be rerouted around roadworks, or a phone call may be redirected to another number.

Grammar & Word origin

umleiten is a separable verb formed from um (“around” or “to another route”) and leiten (“to guide” or “to direct”).

It is usually transitive: someone redirects something. In the present tense, the prefix separates: ich leite um . The past participle is umgeleitet , and the auxiliary verb is haben .

Synonyms & antonyms

umlenken — to divert or redirect; often emphasizes changing a direction.
umführen — to route around something, especially when describing traffic.
weiterleiten — to forward something onward; unlike umleiten, it does not necessarily imply changing its route.

There is no exact, common antonym. direkt leiten (“to direct straight to its destination”) describes the opposite in some contexts.