Brennbar vs. entzündlich vs. entflammbar vs. feuergefährlich
The German words brennbar, entzündlich, entflammbar, and feuergefährlich all relate to materials that can catch fire, but they carry distinct nuances. The differences lie in whether the word describes a basic physical property of being able to burn, the ease of chemical ignition, the tendency to burst into flames, or the sheer hazard the material presents.
Brennbar
The word brennbar is the broadest term and translates directly to combustible. It describes any material that is simply capable of burning to ash if exposed to fire and heat, such as wood, paper, or coal, regardless of how quickly or easily it ignites.
Holz ist ein brennbares Material, das oft zum Heizen verwendet wird.
(Wood is a combustible material that is often used for heating.)
Wir müssen den brennbaren Müll von Glas und Metall trennen.
(We have to separate the combustible waste from glass and metal.)
Die Feuerwehr prüft, ob die Fassade des Hauses brennbar ist.
(The fire department is checking whether the facade of the house is combustible.)
Stein und Eisen gelten allgemein als nicht brennbare Stoffe.
(Stone and iron are generally considered non-combustible substances.)
Entzündlich
The term entzündlich means flammable and focuses on how easily a substance catches fire from a spark, heat, or open ignition source. It is the standard regulatory, chemical, and scientific word used on warning labels for gases, liquids, and hazardous chemicals.
Auf der Flasche mit dem Reinigungsmittel steht, dass es leicht entzündlich ist.
(The bottle of the cleaning agent says that it is highly flammable.)
Wasserstoff ist ein hochentzündliches Gas, mit dem man sehr vorsichtig umgehen muss.
(Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas that must be handled very carefully.)
Bitte halten Sie diese entzündliche Flüssigkeit von direkten Zündquellen fern.
(Please keep this flammable liquid away from direct ignition sources.)
Haarspray enthält entzündliche Aerosole und darf nicht in die Nähe von Feuer geraten.
(Hairspray contains flammable aerosols and must not get close to fire.)
Entflammbar
The word entflammbar also translates to flammable, but its root literally implies the ability to burst into flames. It is frequently used in everyday language for solid materials like fabrics, upholstery, or plastics, and is highly common in the phrase schwer entflammbar, which means flame-retardant.
Die Vorhänge im Theater müssen aus schwer entflammbarem Stoff gewebt sein.
(The curtains in the theater must be woven from flame-retardant fabric.)
Trockenes Gras und Reisig sind im Hochsommer extrem entflammbar.
(Dry grass and brushwood are extremely flammable in midsummer.)
Die billigen Zelte sind aus einem leicht entflammbaren Material hergestellt.
(The cheap tents are made from an easily flammable material.)
Der Teppich wurde speziell chemisch behandelt, damit er weniger entflammbar ist.
(The carpet was specially chemically treated so that it is less flammable.)
Feuergefährlich
The adjective feuergefährlich translates to fire-hazardous or broadly highly flammable, with a strong emphasis on the danger and risk involved. It is used to describe substances, locations, or situations that pose a high risk of starting an uncontrollable fire.
Das Rauchen ist in feuergefährlichen Bereichen der Fabrik strengstens verboten.
(Smoking is strictly forbidden in fire-hazardous areas of the factory.)
Die Lagerung von offenem Benzin in der Garage ist eine feuergefährliche Angelegenheit.
(Storing open petrol in the garage is a fire-hazardous matter.)
Der alte Schuppen voller trockenem Heu gilt als hochgradig feuergefährlich.
(The old shed full of dry hay is considered highly fire-hazardous.)
Diese Chemikalien sind feuergefährlich und erfordern spezielle Sicherheitsvorkehrungen beim Transport.
(These chemicals are a fire hazard and require special safety precautions during transport.)
Summary
To summarize, use brennbar for anything that has the physical capacity to burn, like wood or paper. Use entzündlich when talking about chemicals, liquids, and gases that ignite quickly from a spark. Choose entflammbar when referring to materials and fabrics that can burst into flame, particularly when discussing flame-retardant properties. Finally, reach for feuergefährlich when you want to highlight that a location or substance poses a severe fire hazard.