Abgießen vs. entwässern vs. ablaufen lassen vs. entleeren
German offers specific verbs for the concept of draining depending on the method used (pouring vs. gravity), the object involved (cooking pots vs. land), and the desired result (separation vs. total emptiness). Here is a breakdown of the differences.
Abgießen
B1This verb is primarily used in the kitchen or laboratory. It refers to the active action of tilting a container to separate a liquid from a solid by pouring the liquid out. You use abgießen when you want to keep the solid (like pasta) and get rid of the fluid.
Du musst die Kartoffeln abgießen, sobald sie gar sind.
(You have to drain the potatoes as soon as they are done.)
Kannst du bitte das Wasser von den Oliven abgießen?
(Can you please drain the water from the olives?)
Der Chemiker muss die überstehende Flüssigkeit vorsichtig abgießen.
(The chemist must carefully pour off the excess liquid.)
Entwässern
C1This implies extracting water from a substance, a piece of land, or a body. It is often technical, medical, or agricultural. Unlike abgießen, which is about pouring, entwässern implies a process of drying something out or removing moisture from within.
Die Bauern wollen den Sumpf entwässern, um Ackerland zu gewinnen.
(The farmers want to drain the swamp to gain farmland.)
Der Arzt verschrieb Tabletten, um den Körper zu entwässern.
(The doctor prescribed pills to drain water from the body.)
Wir müssen den Schlamm entwässern, bevor wir ihn entsorgen können.
(We have to dewater the sludge before we can dispose of it.)
Ablaufen lassen
B1This phrase literally means to let run off. It is used when you remove a stopper or plug and allow gravity to do the work. It is also used when you leave wet objects (like dishes) to dry naturally on a rack.
Nach dem Baden musst du das Wasser ablaufen lassen.
(After bathing, you have to let the water drain.)
Wir sollten das Öl ablaufen lassen, bevor wir den Filter wechseln.
(We should let the oil drain before we change the filter.)
Stell das gewaschene Geschirr hierhin, um es ablaufen zu lassen.
(Put the washed dishes here to let them drain.)
Entleeren
B2This is the formal term for to empty. While it can apply to liquids, usually implies removing the entire contents of a container until nothing is left (void). It applies to trash cans, mailboxes, bladders, and storage tanks.
Die Müllabfuhr wird morgen früh die Tonnen entleeren.
(The garbage disposal will empty the bins tomorrow morning.)
Bitte entleeren Sie Ihre Taschen vor der Sicherheitskontrolle.
(Please empty your pockets before the security check.)
Man muss den Wassertank im Winter vollständig entleeren.
(One must completely drain the water tank in winter.)
Summary
Use abgießen for pouring liquid off food (pasta, canned veggies); use entwässern for extracting moisture from land or bodies; use ablaufen lassen when you pull a plug or let dishes drip dry; and use entleeren when completely emptying a container or space.