verb
to turn (off / away), to turn (a corner)
B1
To turn (off/away) or to turn a corner. Separable verb (ab- + biegen), uses sein in perfect (ist abgebogen). Strong/irregular with stem vowel changes (biegen → bieg-, Präteritum: bog). Non-reflexive. Common in directions. Prefix separates in main clauses; imperative forms include 'bieg ab'.
Examples
Ich bin falsch abgebogen.
I took a wrong turn.
Nach dem Hotel biegt die Straße scharf nach rechts ab; dort musst du abbiegen.
After the hotel the road turns sharply to the right — that's where you should turn.
Am Ende der Straße bog das Auto ab, weil der Fahrer dem Navi folgen musste.
At the end of the street the car turned off because the driver had to follow the GPS.
Details
Mnemonics
picture a car at an intersection and the front wheels angling to turn off the road
sounds a bit like English "ab-bee-gen" — think "aBEND" (bend = turn)
Notes
Separable verb (ab- prefix). Movement verb that typically uses the auxiliary sein in perfect tenses. Common in driving directions. | Intransitive verb; passive voice is not applicable.