einzuwerfen

Einzuwerfen is the infinitive with zu of the German verb einwerfen, meaning to insert or drop something into a receptacle or container. It is used to describe the action of placing an item into a device or slot, such as a coin into a vending machine or a letter into a mailbox. The noun form of the act is das Einwerfen.

Grammar and usage are straightforward for speakers of German. Einwerfen is a separable-prefix verb, and in the zu-infinitive the prefix remains attached, giving einzuwerfen. Example: Es ist wichtig, die Münze einzuwerfen. In noun form one can say: das Einwerfen einer Münze.

Common contexts include coin-operated machines, ticket or vending machines, and mail or ballot boxes. For instance, "Bitte werfen Sie die Münze in den Automaten ein" (Please insert the coin into the machine) or "Um den Brief zu verschicken, werfen Sie ihn in den Briefkasten ein" (To send the letter, drop it into the mailbox). The construction is also found in more formal or instructional language, where actions are described as required or recommended.

Differences to related verbs are worth noting. Einwerfen specifically refers to physically inserting something into a receptacle. By contrast, einlegen can mean to insert or place something inside but is often used for non-automatic contexts or less physical insertion, and einreichen means to submit documents or items to an authority or institution rather than to deposit them physically. This distinction helps in choosing the most precise verb in practical writing and speech.