📂

How to Say ‘Open it.’ in German

Mach es auf.

mahkh es owf

[mahkh es owf]

💬 Usage Tip: aufmachen splits when you give an instruction: mach comes first and auf goes to the end. Same with zumachen: Mach die Tür zu "Close the door".

Phrase Breakdown

Mach

[mahkh]

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

Informal command form 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.

auf

[owf]

open (separable prefix)

Separable part of 'aufmachen' (to open), placed at the end of the sentence.

Example

Mach das Geschenk auf!

Open the present!

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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