👉📂

How to Say ‘Go ahead and open it now.’ in German

Mach es ruhig gleich auf.

makh es ROO-ikh glykh owf

[makh es ROO-ikh glykh owf]

💬 Usage Tip: ruhig normally means "calm", but in a request it means "go ahead, feel free". Setz dich ruhig "Feel free to sit down".

🇩🇪 In Germany: Many Germans wait for permission before unwrapping in front of the giver. Hearing this is your cue to open it straight away.

Phrase Breakdown

Mach es ruhig

makh es ROO-ikh

Go ahead and

Here 'ruhig' (literally 'calm') means 'feel free'. Say it 'ROO-ikh'.

Example

Nimm es ruhig.

Go ahead and take it.

Words in this phrase

Mach

[makh]

make, do (here: open, with 'auf')

Imperative of 'machen'; with 'auf' it forms 'aufmachen', to open.

Example

Mach die Tür auf!

Open the door!

[es]

A neutral pronoun used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

Es ist ein schöner Tag.

It is a beautiful day.

ruhig

[ROO-ikh]

feel free, go ahead

Particle softening an invitation.

Example

Fragen Sie ruhig.

Feel free to ask.

gleich auf.

glykh owf

open it right away.

'gleich' means 'right away'. 'auf' finishes the verb 'aufmachen'. Say 'glyekh owf'.

Example

Ich komme gleich.

I'm coming right away.

Words in this phrase

gleich

[glykh]

immediately

Without delay or hesitation.

Example

Er kam gleich zurück.

He returned immediately.

auf

[owf]

open (separable prefix)

Part of the separable verb 'aufmachen', placed at the end.

Example

Mach das Fenster auf.

Open the window.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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