The German Verb “Machen” with 18 Prefixes

The German language is rich with verbs that can be transformed into various meanings by adding prefixes. One of the most commonly used and versatile verbs in German is “machen,” which translates to “to do” or “to make.”

Like with other German verbs, when you add different prefixes to “machen,” you can create entirely new verbs with distinct meanings. This flexibility makes “machen” an essential verb to master if you want to enhance your fluency in German.

In this article, we’ll see how the verb “machen” can be transformed into different variations and how different prefixes change its meaning. We’ll also provide examples to help you understand how to use these variations in everyday conversation.

Basic Verb: Machen

At its core, “machen” means “to do” or “to make.” You can use this verb to talk about both simple everyday tasks as well as complex activities:

Ich mache die Hausaufgaben. → I’m doing the homework.

Sie macht ein Foto von mir. → She’s taking a picture of me.

Was machst du gerade? → What are you doing right now?

In its imperative form, “machen” changes depending on who you are addressing:

• Mach! (informal singular)
• Machen Sie! (formal singular or plural)
• Macht! (informal plural)

17 Prefixes Used with “Machen”

Now, let’s explore how different prefixes transform the meaning of “machen.”

1) abmachen (to agree on something, to remove)

“Abmachen” can mean to agree on something:

Wir haben abgemacht, uns morgen in der Stadt zu treffen. → We agreed to meet in the city tomorrow.

A synonym for “abmachen” would be “vereinbaren”: Wir haben vereinbart, uns morgen in der Stadt zu treffen.

“Abmachen” also means to remove an object that hangs or sticks to a surface, like a wall or a ceiling.

Kannst du das Poster von der Wand abmachen? → Can you take the poster off the wall?

You can also use the German synonym “entfernen”: Kannst du das Poster von der Wand entfernen?

2) anmachen (to turn on, to flirt)

“Anmachen” is used for turning on devices:

Mach bitte den Fernseher an. → Please turn on the TV.

You can also use the German verb “einschalten”: Schalte bitte den Fernseher ein.

It can also mean to flirt:

Er hat sie in der Bar angemacht. → He flirted with her at the bar.

3) aufmachen (to open)

“Aufmachen” means to open something, like doors or packages:

Mach bitte das Fenster auf. → Please open the window.

You can also use the German synonym “öffnen”:

Öffne bitte das Fenster.

4) ausmachen (to turn off, to matter, to agree on something)

“Ausmachen” is commonly used for turning off devices or lights.

Kannst du das Licht ausmachen? → Can you turn off the light?

“Ausmachen” can also mean to matter:

Es macht mir nichts aus. → It doesn’t matter to me.

It also means to agree on something, similar to abmachen.

Wir haben ausgemacht, uns um 15 Uhr bei ihm zu treffen. → We agreed on meeting at his place at 3pm.

The video below offers an in-depth look into these verb variations and will also help you improve your German pronunciation.

5) Falsch machen (to do something wrong)

“Falsch machen” refers to making a mistake:

Was habe ich falsch gemacht? → What did I do wrong?

6) Fertigmachen (to finish, to exhaust)

This verb can mean to complete something:

Ich mache meine Arbeit fertig. → I’m finishing my work.

You can also use the German verb “erledigen”:

Ich erledige meine Arbeit.

“Fertigmachen” also means to exhaust someone or to wear someone out:

Das hat mich fertig gemacht. → That wore me out.

7) Festmachen (to fasten, to secure)

“Festmachen” is used to indicate fastening or securing something:

Mach das Seil fest, bevor du kletterst. → Fasten the rope before you climb.

You can also use the German synonym “befestigen”:

Sie hat das Vogelhaus am Baum befestigt. → She attached the bird house to the tree.

8) Freimachen (to take time off, to clear)

“Frei machen” means to take time off:

Ich mache morgen frei. → I’m taking the day off tomorrow.

Another way to say this would be:

Ich nehme mir morgen frei.

9) Gutmachen (to make up for something, to compensate)

“Gutmachen” means to make up for a mistake or to compensate:

Ich werde den Fehler wieder gutmachen. → I will make up for the mistake.

10) Kaputtmachen (to break, to ruin)

“Kaputtmachen” is used when something is broken or ruined:

Pass auf, dass du das Spielzeug nicht kaputtmachst. → Be careful not to break the toy.

11) Leermachen (to empty)

“Leermachen” refers to emptying something, such as a container:

Mach bitte den Mülleimer leer. → Please empty the trash can.

You can also use the German verb “leeren”:

Ich muss noch den Mülleimer leeren, bevor wir fahren.

12) Mitmachen (to participate)

“Mitmachen” is used when someone joins an activity:

Willst du beim Spiel mitmachen? → Do you want to join the game?

Sie hat bei der Diskussion mitgemacht. → She participated in the discussion.

13) Nassmachen (to get something wet)

“Nassmachen” is used when something gets wet:

Mach die Haare nicht nass! → Don’t get the hair wet!

14) Wachmachen (to wake up someone)

“Wachmachen” is used to wake someone up from sleep:

Mach die Kinder wach, es ist Zeit für die Schule. → Wake the kids up; it’s time for school.

You can also use the German synonym “wecken”:

Weck die Kinder, es ist Zeit für die Schule.

15) Warmmachen (to warm up, to heat)

“Warmmachen” means to warm something up, typically food:

Ich mache das Essen schnell warm. → I’ll quickly warm up the food.

You can also use the verb “aufwärmen”:

Ich wärme das Essen schnell auf.

16) Wegmachen (to remove)

“Wegmachen” refers to removing something, like dirt or stains.

Ich habe den Fleck weggemacht. → I removed the stain.

Könntest du bitte den Dreck wegmachen? → Could you please remove the dirt?

You wouldn’t use it to remove an object you can move back and forth, like a car or a book. For vehicles, you would use “wegfahren”:

Können Sie bitte Ihr Auto wegfahren? Hier ist Halteverbot. → Can you please move your car? There is no stopping here.

For books and the like, you can use “weglegen.”

Bitte leg das Buch weg. → Literally: Please lay the book away.

17) Zumachen (to close)

“Zumachen” is the opposite of “aufmachen,” meaning to close something:

Mach das Fenster zu. → Close the window.

You can also use the German verb “schließen”:

Schließen Sie bitte das Fenster. → Please close the window.

18) Zurechtmachen (to get ready, to prepare oneself)

“Zurechtmachen” involves getting oneself ready:

Ich mache mich für die Party zurecht. → I’m getting ready for the party.

For more advanced studying, why don’t you check out the difference between the German verbs “tun” and “machen” and how they are used in different contexts! Watch the video below for a detailed explanation and practical examples that will come in handy to you.

Conclusion

The German verb “machen” and its numerous prefixes allow you to discuss a broad range of activities in German. From turning off lights to waking someone up, and from making someone wet to taking time off, getting a good grasp of these variations of “machen” will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in a wide range of situations.