Umherschweifen

Umherschweifen is a German verb that means to wander about or drift around, either physically in a space or metaphorically, as thoughts or attention do. It is commonly used with nouns such as Gedanken (thoughts), Blick (gaze) or Aufmerksamkeit (attention). The expression conveys a sense of aimless movement rather than purposeful action. Example: Während der Vorlesung ließ er seine Gedanken umherschweifen.

Form and usage: The verb is formed from schweifen (to wander) with the prefix um-, and is typically treated as separable: Meine Gedanken schweifen umher. Alternatively: Ich lasse meine Gedanken umherschweifen. In spoken German you may hear saya “Gedanken umherschweifen” or “Gedanken schweifen umher” with similar meaning. The construction can also apply to other subjects, such as Augen (eyes) or Blick, indicating a roaming, unfocused gaze.

Nuances and register: Umherschweifen is somewhat literary or poetic and more common in written or formal contexts. In everyday speech, people might opt for alternatives like Gedanken wandern or Gedanken schweifen ab, depending on nuance. Umherschweifen emphasizes roaming movement with no fixed direction, whether in space or in the mind, and often carries a gentle, associative tone rather than a harsh or abrupt one.

See also: Gedankenwandern (mind-wandering), Gedanken wandern, schweifen, herumschweifen.