fernen

Fer­nen is a term that appears only rarely in modern standard German. In contemporary usage, the verb to remove or to separate is usually entfer­nen (with ent- as a prefix). As an independent base form, fer­nen is generally considered obsolete or confined to historical texts and dialectal forms. The noun for the act of removing is das Entfernen, and the noun for distance is die Entfernung.

Etymology and form. The word is linked to the German root fern, meaning distant, and to the separative prefix ent-, which in many verbs conveys the idea of removal or separation. In modern German, the action is expressed primarily with entfernen or related forms such as entfernen, and the simple form fer­nen does not participate in common conjugation.

Usage. Today, fer­nen is not used as a productive verb in standard German. It may be encountered only in older literature, linguistic discussions about word formation, or as a historical variant. When referring to removing something, speakers and writers will use entfernen (Ich entferne den Stuhl) or the noun Entfernen for the act itself.

Relation to related terms. Ferner is a separate word in German meaning “furthermore” or “moreover,” and is not a form of entfer­nen. Entfernen and Entfernung are closely related through their shared root fern/entfernen, but they occupy distinct grammatical roles in modern language.

See also. Entfernen, Entfernung, Ferner.