PREFIX

Aus

Prefix: aus-

Meaning 1: Out / Outside (movement from inside to outside)

Aus : Sie geht aus dem Haus.

Out of : She goes out of the house.

Meaning 2: Off (stopping a function or light)

Ausmachen : Mach das Licht aus!

To turn off : Turn the light off!

Meaning 3: Up / Completely (finishing something fully)

Austrinken : Ich trinke den Saft aus.

To drink up : I drink up the juice.

Meaning 4: Selecting / Picking out (choosing from a group)

Aussuchen: Sie sucht das Buch aus.

Tra: She picks out the book.

Meaning 5: Out / Drying / Changing state (becoming completely dry or changed)

Example: Die Blume ist ausgetrocknet.

Translation: The flower dried out.

Meaning 6: Spending completely (using up all of a resource)

Example: Ich habe das Geld ausgegeben.

Translation: I spent the money.

Fixed expressions:

Aus und vorbei. – Over and done with.

aus der Reihe tanzen. – To step out of line.

aus Liebe. – Out of love

Auf

Prefix: auf-

Meaning 1: Up / Upward (movement from lower to higher)

Example: Sie steht um 6 Uhr auf.

Translation: She gets up at 6 o'clock.

Meaning 2: Open (changing from closed to open state)

Example: Mach bitte das Fenster auf!

Translation: Please open the window!

Meaning 3: Completion / Finishing (doing something completely to the end)

Example: Ich habe die ganze Pizza aufgegessen.

Translation: I ate up the whole pizza.

Meaning 4: Collecting / Gathering (bringing scattered things together)

Example: Sie sammelt die Bücher vom Boden auf.

Translation: She collects the books from the floor.

Meaning 5: Sudden start (beginning an action abruptly)

Example: Das Kind schreit plötzlich auf.

Translation: The child suddenly cries out.

Fixed expressions:

Auf jeden Fall. – In any case.

Auf die Reihe bekommen. – To get something sorted out.

Aufpassen. – To pay attention.

Short summary: Up, open, complete, gather, or sudden start.

Ab

Prefix: ab

Meaning 1: Away / Down (movement away from a place)

Example: Er fährt morgen ab.

Translation: He leaves (drives away) tomorrow.

Meaning 2: Off (removing a surface or covering)

Example: Sie wischt den Tisch ab.

Translation: She wipes off the table.

Meaning 3: Downward/off (movement from higher to lower)

Example: Das Flugzeug fliegt ab.

Translation: The plane takes off (flies away/down the runway).

Meaning 4: Canceling / Stopping (ending a process)

Example: Ich habe den Termin abgesagt.

Translation: I canceled the appointment.

Meaning 5: Copying (taking a replica)

Example: Er schreibt den Text ab.

Translation: He copies the text (writes it off).

Meaning 6: Starting (beginning an action, often with vehicles)

Example: Der Zug fährt gleich ab.

Translation: The train departs (starts) soon.

Fixed expressions:

Ab und zu. – Now and then.

Ab heute. – From today on.

Ab nach Hause! – Off home!

An

Prefix: an-

Meaning 1: At / To / On (movement toward a vertical surface or point)

Example: Er geht an die Tafel.

Translation: He goes to the board.

Meaning 2: Starting / Beginning (initiating an action)

Anfangen : Ich fange mit der Arbeit an.

To start : I start with the work.

Meaning 3: Turning on / Activating (starting a device or function)

anmachen : Mach den Computer an!

Tourn on : Turn on the computer!

Meaning 4: Touching / Contact (physical contact with a surface)

anfassen : Sie fasst die Wand an.

To touch : She touches the wall.

Meaning 5: Putting on (clothing or accessories)

anziehen : Sie zieht den Mantel an.

To put on : She puts on the coat.

Fixed expressions:

An und für sich. – In itself / Actually.

An meiner Stelle. – In my place.

Anrufen. – To call (on the phone).

Short summary: At/to/on, start, turn on, touch, put on.

Bei( preposition)

Preposition : bei

Meaning 1: At / Near / By (being close to a person or place)

Example: Ich wohne bei meiner Oma.

Translation: I live at my grandma's place.

Meaning 2: During / While (referring to a simultaneous action)

Example: Beim Essen lese ich Zeitung.

Translation: While eating, I read the newspaper.

Meaning 3: With (referring to a company or organization)

Example: Sie arbeitet bei BMW.

Translation: She works at BMW.

Meaning 4: Among / In the case of (referring to a group or condition)

Example: Bei Regen bleibe ich zu Hause.

Translation: In case of rain, I stay at home.

Meaning 5: By / Through (as a fixed preposition in certain verbs)

Example: Es kommt auf die Details an.

Translation: It depends on the details. (Note: This uses "an" — see trap below.)

Fixed expressions:

Bei weitem. – By far.

Bleib bei mir! – Stay with me!

Bei Gott! – By God!

Short summary: At/near/by, during, with, among, or in the case of.

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Note: "bei-" is a non-separable prefix in most verbs (like behalten, beginnen), but as a preposition it is always Dative.

Dar ( prefix/ preposition)

Dar = Als Prefix und als preposition

Meaning 1: There / It/ about (as a placeholder for a thing or situation, often with prepositions)

erzählen : Er hat mir davon erzählt.

To tell( told) : He told me about it.

Davon : about it

Meaning 2: Out / Forth (movement outward or putting something forward)

darstellen : Sie stellt das Buch dar.

To present : She presents the book.

Meaning 3: In combination with prepositions (replacing "da" + preposition to refer to something mentioned before)

Darauf : Ich warte darauf.

On it \ for it \ after that (darauf) : I am waiting for it.

Fixed expressions:

Darf ich? – May I?

Darauf kommt es an. – That's what it depends on.

Daran erkennst du ihn. – That's how you recognize him.

Short summary: There/it / about (placeholder),

out/forth, ( present)

in combination with prepositions (da + prep).

Ein

Prefix: ein-

Meaning 1: Into / In (movement from outside to inside)

eingehen : Sie geht in das Haus ein.

To go into : She goes into the house.

Meaning 2: Beginning / Starting (initiating an action or process)

einfangen : Der Film fängt jetzt ein.

to start : The movie is starting now.

Meaning 3: Learning / Practicing (acquiring knowledge or skill)

einlernen : Ich lerne Deutsch ein.

To learn in / to train in : I am learning German.

Meaning 4: Packing / Wrapping (putting something into a container)

einpacken : Sie packt das Geschenk ein.

To pack : She wraps the gift.

Meaning 5: Turning on (activating a device or function – informal, often used in spoken German)

Einschalten : Ich schalte den Fernseher ein.

To turn on : I turn on the television.

Fixed expressions:

Ein und für allemal. – Once and for all.

Ein Auge zudrücken. – To turn a blind eye.

Eins, zwei, drei! – One, two, three!

Short summary: Into, start

, learn, pack, or turn on.

Fest

Prefix: fest-

Meaning 1: hold / Tight (making something secure or stable)

Festhalten : Sie hält den Seil fest.

To hold on : She holds the rope tight.

Meaning 2: Fixed / Permanent (making something unchangeable or lasting

Festlegen : Wir haben den Termin festgelegt.

To fixed/ to set : We fixed the appointment.

Meaning 3 : Solid / Hard (changing from liquid to solid state)

Festwurden : Das Wasser ist gefroren und fest geworden.

To become stone/solid : The water froze and became solid.

Meaning 4: Deciding / Settling (making a final choice or agreement)

Festlegen : Sie hat sich für das rote Kleid festgelegt.

To decide : She decided on the red dress.

Fixed expressions:

Fest und sicher. – Firm and secure.

Fest steht. – It is certain.

Festhalten. – To hold on / to record.

Short summary: Firm/tight, fixed/permanent, solid/hard, or decide/settle.

Fort

Prefix: fort-

Meaning 1: Away (movement away from a place)

Example: Er geht fort.

Translation: He goes away.

Meaning 2: Continuing / On (an action that continues without stopping)

Example: Sie arbeitet fort.

Translation: She continues working.

Meaning 3: Removing (taking something away or eliminating it)

Example: Ich habe den Fleck fortgewischt.

Translation: I wiped away the stain.

Fixed expressions:

Fort und fort. – Again and again.

Von jetzt an fort. – From now on.

Fort mit dir! – Away with you!

Short summary: Away, continuing, or removing.

Hin

Prefix: hin-

Meaning 1: Away from the speaker (movement from the speaker toward a different location)

Example: Er geht hin.

Translation: He goes there (away from me).

Meaning 2: Toward a destination (directed to a specific goal)

Example: Ich lege das Buch hin.

Translation: I put the book down (there).

Meaning 3: Indicating direction (emphasizing the direction toward a place)

Example: Sie fährt nach Berlin hin.

Translation: She drives to Berlin (toward there).

Meaning 4: In combination with "her" to indicate movement back and forth

Example: Sie laufen hin und her.

Translation: They walk back and forth.

Fixed expressions:

Hin und her. – Back and forth.

Hin oder her. – Be that as it may.

Hin zu! – Head toward!

Short summary: Away from the speaker, toward a destination, indicating direction,

or movement to a goal.

Los

Prefix: los-

Meaning 1: Starting / Beginning (initiating an action or movement)

Example: Der Zug fährt los.

Translation: The train departs (starts moving).

Meaning 2: Away / Off (removing or separating something)

Example: Er löst das Problem los.

Translation: He solves (loosens away) the problem.

Meaning 3: Free / Released (setting something free)

Example: Sie lässt den Hund los.

Translation: She lets the dog loose (free).

Meaning 4: Loosening / Detaching (making something unfastened)

Example: Er macht den Knoten los.

Translation: He undoes (loosens) the knot.

Fixed expressions:

Los geht's! – Let's go!

Auf und los! – Up and go!

Los mit dir! – Get away! / Off with you!

Short summary: Start/begin, away/off, free/rel

ease, or loosen/detach.

Mit

Prefix: mit-

Meaning 1: With (doing something together with someone)

Example: Ich gehe mit.

Translation: I am going along (with someone).

Meaning 2: Along / Together (participating in an action)

Example: Sie bringt ihren Freund mit.

Translation: She brings her friend along.

Meaning 3: Co- (doing something jointly or collaboratively)

Example: Wir arbeiten zusammen an dem Projekt mit.

Translation: We are collaborating (working together) on the project.

Meaning 4: Feeling / Sympathizing (sharing someone else's emotion)

Example: Ich fühle mit dir.

Translation: I sympathize with you (I feel with you).

Fixed expressions:

Mit mir oder ohne mich? – With me or without me?

Mit der Zeit. – Over time.

Mit anderen Worten. – In other words.

Short summary: With, along/together

, co-, or sympathizing.

Nach

Prefix: nach-

Meaning 1: After (doing something later or following in time)

Example: Ich rufe dich morgen zurück.

Translation: I'll call you back tomorrow. (But for nachrufen: Er ruft ihr nach. – He calls after her.)

Meaning 2: Imitating / Copying (doing the same as someone else)

Example: Das Kind spricht alles nach.

Translation: The child repeats everything (after someone).

Meaning 3: Checking / Verifying (looking at something again carefully)

Example: Der Lehrer sieht die Hausaufgaben nach.

Translation: The teacher checks the homework.

Meaning 4: Following (going after someone or something)

Example: Sie geht ihrem Freund nach.

Translation: She follows her boyfriend (goes after him).

Fixed expressions with "nach-":

nachdenken – to think about / reflect.

nachmachen – to copy / imitate.

nachfragen – to ask again / inquire.

Short summary: After, imi

tate, check, or follow.

Nieder

Prefix: nieder-

Meaning 1: Down (movement from higher to lower)

Example: Er setzt sich nieder.

Translation: He sits down.

Meaning 2: Knocking down / Destroying (bringing something to the ground)

Example: Der Sturm hat viele Bäume niedergelegt.

Translation: The storm knocked down many trees.

Meaning 3: Defeating (overcoming an opponent figuratively)

Example: Sie hat den Gegner niedergekämpft.

Translation: She defeated the opponent.

Fixed expressions:

niederschreiben – to write down.

niederschlagen – to knock down / to depress.

Short summary: Down, knoc

k down, or defeat.

Vor

Prefix: vor-

Meaning 1: Forward (movement ahead)

Example: Er geht vor.

Translation: He goes forward.

Meaning 2: Before / In front of (something is ahead)

Example: Der Termin liegt vor.

Translation: The appointment is coming up (lies ahead).

Meaning 3: Showing / Presenting (bringing something to others)

Example: Sie zeigt das Bild vor.

Translation: She shows the picture (presents it).

Meaning 4: Doing in advance (doing something early)

Example: Ich koche das Essen vor.

Translation: I prepare the food in advance.

Fixed expressions:

vorhaben – to plan / to intend.

vorstellen – to introduce / to imagine.

vorkommen – to happen / to seem.

Short summary: Forward, before/in front, show/pre

sent, or do in advance.

Weg

Prefix: weg-

Meaning 1: Away (movement from a place)

Example: Er geht weg.

Translation: He goes away.

Meaning 2: Removing (taking something away)

Example: Sie nimmt das Buch weg.

Translation: She takes the book away.

Meaning 3: Disappearing (vanishing or ceasing to exist)

Example: Der Schmerz ist weg.

Translation: The pain is gone.

Fixed expressions:

weggehen – to go away / to leave.

wegwerfen – to throw away.

weglaufen – to run away.

Short summary: Away, remove, or disappear.

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Zu

Prefix: zu-

Meaning 1: Closed (changing from open to closed)

Example: Mach die Tür zu!

Translation: Close the door!

Meaning 2: Too much (excessive, often with adjectives)

Example: Das ist zu viel.

Translation: That is too much.

Meaning 3: Toward (movement in a direction)

Example: Er geht zum Bahnhof.

Translation: He goes toward the train station.

Meaning 4: Addition (adding something extra)

Example: Gib noch Salz zu!

Translation: Add some more salt!

Meaning 5: Stopping / Blocking (making something stop)

Example: Das Auto fährt zu.

Translation: The car stops (drives up to something and stops).

Fixed expressions:

zuhören – to listen (to).

zumachen – to close.

zunehmen – to increase / to gain weight.

Short summary: Closed, too much, tow

ard, addition, or stopping.

Zurück

Prefix: zurück-

Meaning 1: Back (movement to the starting point)

Example: Er kommt zurück.

Translation: He comes back.

Meaning 2: Returning (giving something back)

Example: Sie gibt das Buch zurück.

Translation: She gives the book back.

Meaning 3: Holding back (restraining or stopping)

Example: Er hält sich zurück.

Translation: He holds himself back.

Fixed expressions:

zurückrufen – to call back.

zurückdenken – to think back.

zurückkehren – to return.

Short summary: Back, re

turn, or hold back.

Zusammen

Prefix: zusammen-

Meaning 1: Together (joining or combining)

Example: Wir arbeiten zusammen.

Translation: We work together.

Meaning 2: Combining / Merging (putting things into one)

Example: Sie fügt die Teile zusammen.

Translation: She joins the parts together.

Meaning 3: Collapsing / Breaking down (falling into pieces)

Example: Das Gebäude ist zusammengebrochen.

Translation: The building collapsed.

Fixed expressions:

zusammenfassen – to summarize.

zusammenkommen – to meet / to come together.

zusammensetzen – to assemble / to put together.

Short summary: Together, co

mbine, or collapse.

Weiter

Prefix: weiter-

Meaning 1: Continue / On (action continues without stopping)

Example: Er arbeitet weiter.

Translation: He continues working.

Meaning 2: Further (greater distance or degree)

Example: Fahren Sie weiter!

Translation: Drive further!

Meaning 3: Passing on (giving something to the next person)

Example: Sie gibt den Brief weiter.

Translation: She passes on the letter.

Fixed expressions:

weitermachen – to continue / to go on.

weitergehen – to go on / to continue (walking).

weiterleiten – to forward (pass on).

Short summary: Continue, f

urther, or pass on.

Teil

Prefix: teil-

Meaning 1: Taking part / Participating (being involved in something)

Example: Er nimmt an dem Wettbewerb teil.

Translation: He takes part in the competition.

Meaning 2: Sharing / Dividing (separating something into parts)

Example: Wir teilen die Kosten unter uns auf. (Note: this uses aufteilen)

Translation: We share the costs among us.

Meaning 3: Dividing / Splitting (breaking something into pieces)

Example: Der Lehrer teilt die Schüler in Gruppen ein. (Note: this uses einteilen)

Translation: The teacher divides the students into groups.

Fixed expressions:

teilnehmen – to participate / to take part.

aufteilen – to divide up / to share.

einteilen – to divide / to allocate.

Short summary: Participate

, share, or divide.

Wieder

Prefix: wieder-

Meaning 1: Again (repeating an action)

Example: Sie kommt morgen wieder.

Translation: She comes again tomorrow.

Meaning 2: Back (returning to a previous state or place)

Example: Er gibt das Buch zurück. (Note: uses zurück-, but wieder- can also mean back in some verbs)

Translation: He gives the book back.

Meaning 3: Restoring (bringing something back to its original condition)

Example: Der Arzt hat ihn wiederhergestellt.

Translation: The doctor restored him (to health).

Fixed expressions:

wiedersehen – to see again.

wiederholen – to repeat.

wiederkommen – to come back.

Short summary: Again, back, or restore.

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Statt

Prefix: statt-

Meaning 1: Instead of (replacing one thing with another)

Example: Er nimmt den Bus statt des Zuges.

Translation: He takes the bus instead of the train.

Meaning 2: Taking place / Occurring (happening)

Example: Das Konzert findet morgen statt.

Translation: The concert takes place tomorrow.

Meaning 3: Granting / Approving (formal)

Example: Der Richter gibt dem Antrag statt.

Translation: The judge grants the application.

Fixed expressions:

stattfinden – to take place.

stattgeben – to grant / to approve.

Short summary: Instead of, take place, or grant.

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Note:

Statt is used as both a preposition (meaning "instead of") and a separable prefix (in verbs like stattfinden and stattgeben).

As a preposition, it takes the Genitive case: statt des Buches (instead of the book).

As a verb prefix, it is separable and goes to the end of the clause in main clauses: Das Konzert findet statt.

Uber

Prefix: über- (separable – when stressed on the prefix)

Meaning 1: Over / Across (movement from one side to the other)

Example: Er setzt über. (He crosses over.)

Meaning 2: Transferring / Moving (changing location)

Example: Sie fährt über. (She drives over/across.)

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Fixed expressions with "über-" (separable):

überqueren – to cross over (but this is inseparable – careful!)

(For separable, only a few verbs like übersetzen – to ferry across – are separable when stressed on the prefix.)

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Short summary:

über- = Over / Across (only when stressed on the prefix and separable).

Important note:

über- is usually inseparable (like überlegen – to think over, übersetzen – to translate).

It is separable only in a few verbs like übersetzen (to ferry across) and überqueren (to cross) — but these are rare.

In most cases, über- does not go to the end.

Um

Prefix: um- (separable – when stressed on the prefix)

Meaning 1: Around (movement in a circle or changing direction)

Example: Er dreht sich um. (He turns around.)

Meaning 2: Change / Transformation (converting to a different state)

Example: Sie zieht in eine neue Stadt um. (She moves to a new city.)

Meaning 3: Changing transport (switching trains, buses, etc.)

Example: Er steigt am Hauptbahnhof um. (He changes trains at the main station.)

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Fixed expressions with "um-" (separable):

umziehen – to move house.

umsteigen – to change (trains/buses).

umändern – to change / alter.

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Short summary:

um- = Around, change, or switch (only when stressed on the prefix and separable).

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Important note:

um- can be inseparable in some verbs (like umgeben – to surround, umarmen – to hug).

When the stress is on the prefix (UM-ziehen), it is separable and goes to the end.

When the stress is on the root (um-ARM-en), it is insepara

ble and stays with the verb.

Durch

Prefix: durch- (separable – when stressed on the prefix)

Meaning 1: Through (movement from one side to the other)

Example: Er geht den Park durch. (He walks through the park.)

Meaning 2: Thoroughly / Completely (doing something fully)

Example: Sie liest den Text durch. (She reads through the text.)

Meaning 3: Without stopping (continuing through)

Example: Der Zug fährt durch. (The train goes through without stopping.)

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Fixed expressions with "durch-" (separable):

durchgehen – to go through.

durchlesen – to read through.

durchfahren – to drive through.

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Short summary:

durch- = Through, thoroughly, or without stopping (only when stressed on the prefix and separable).

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Important note:

durch- can be inseparable in some verbs (like durchleben – to experience, durchschauen – to see through).

When the stress is on the prefix (DURCH-gehen), it is separable and goes to the end.

When the stress is on the root (durch-SCHAU-en), it is inseparable and stays with the verb.

Unter

Prefix: unter- (separable – when stressed on the prefix)

Meaning 1: Under / Below (movement downward or to a lower position)

Example: Die Sonne geht unter. (The sun sets.)

Meaning 2: Sinking / Going down (physically descending)

Example: Das Schiff ist untergegangen. (The ship sank.)

Meaning 3: Subordinating / Placing below (figurative)

Example: Er ordnet sich unter. (He subordinates himself.)

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Fixed expressions with "unter-" (separable):

untergehen – to sink / to set (sun).

unterbringen – to accommodate / to place.

unterkriegen – to defeat / to bring down (colloquial).

Short summary:

unter- = Under, down, or subordinate (only when stressed on the prefix and separable).

Important note:

unter- can be inseparable in many verbs (like unterrichten – to teach, unterhalten – to entertain, unterstreichen – to underline).

When the stress is on the prefix (UN-ter-gehen), it is separable and goes to the end.

When the stress is on the root (unter-RICH-ten), it is insepara

ble and stays with the verb.