um|fahren / umfahren
Translation
to knock over, to drive around, to run down, to bypass
Examples
Er hat das Verkehrsschild umgefahren.
He knocked over the traffic sign.
Wir müssen die Baustelle umfahren.
We have to drive around the construction site.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) umfahren (separable) to knock sth. over He knocks the bollard over.
((sth.)) umfahren (inseparable) to drive around sth. She drives around the traffic jam.
Similar Words
Separable: überfahren (to run over); Inseparable: ausweichen (to avoid)
Etymology
From 'um-' (around/over) and 'fahren' (to drive). The meaning changes with stress and separability.
Memory Tips
Stress on 'um' (UM-fahren) means you drive OVER it (knock down). Stress on 'fahr' (um-FAH-ren) means you drive AROUND it.