German Word Prefixes and Their Meanings186

German is a language known for its complex grammar and vocabulary, and one of the key aspects of its vocabulary is the use of prefixes. Prefixes are affixes that are added to the beginning of words to change their meaning. They can be used to change the part of speech, the tense, or the voice of a word, or to add a new meaning altogether. There are many different prefixes in German, each with its own unique meaning. In this article, we will explore some of the most common German prefixes and their meanings.

1. ab-

The prefix "ab-" means "away" or "off". It is often used to indicate that something is being removed or separated. For example, the word "abfahren" means "to drive away", and the word "abschneiden" means "to cut off".

2. an-

The prefix "an-" means "on" or "to". It is often used to indicate that something is being attached or connected. For example, the word "anbringen" means "to attach", and the word "ankommen" means "to arrive".

3. auf-

The prefix "auf-" means "up" or "on". It is often used to indicate that something is being raised or increased. For example, the word "aufstehen" means "to stand up", and the word "aufmachen" means "to open".

4. aus-

The prefix "aus-" means "out" or "from". It is often used to indicate that something is being removed or separated. For example, the word "aussteigen" means "to get out", and the word "ausschalten" means "to turn off".

5. be-

The prefix "be-" has several different meanings. It can mean "to make" or "to become", as in the word "bekommen" (to get). It can also mean "to cover" or "to surround", as in the word "bedecken" (to cover). Finally, it can mean "to intensify" or "to strengthen", as in the word "beschleunigen" (to accelerate).

6. durch-

The prefix "durch-" means "through" or "across". It is often used to indicate that something is passing through or across something else. For example, the word "durchfahren" means "to drive through", and the word "durchqueren" means "to cross".

7. ein-

The prefix "ein-" means "in" or "into". It is often used to indicate that something is being put into or entering something else. For example, the word "einsteigen" means "to get into", and the word "einschlafen" means "to fall asleep".

8. ent-

The prefix "ent-" means "away" or "off". It is often used to indicate that something is being removed or separated. For example, the word "entkommen" means "to escape", and the word "entziehen" means "to withdraw".

9. er-

The prefix "er-" has several different meanings. It can mean "to make" or "to become", as in the word "erhalten" (to receive). It can also mean "to reach" or "to achieve", as in the word "erreichen" (to reach). Finally, it can mean "to separate" or "to divide", as in the word "erkennen" (to recognize).

10. fort-

The prefix "fort-" means "away" or "forth". It is often used to indicate that something is moving away or continuing. For example, the word "fortfahren" means "to continue", and the word "fortgehen" means "to go away".

11. gegen-

The prefix "gegen-" means "against" or "opposite". It is often used to indicate that something is opposing or conflicting with something else. For example, the word "gegensätzlich" means "opposite", and the word "gegenüber" means "opposite".

12. heim-

The prefix "heim-" means "home" or "homeward". It is often used to indicate that something is going home or returning to its origin. For example, the word "heimkehren" means "to return home", and the word "heimlich" means "secret" (literally, "homely").

13. her-

The prefix "her-" means "here" or "hither". It is often used to indicate that something is coming here or approaching. For example, the word "herkommen" means "to come here", and the word "herbeirufen" means "to summon".

14. hin-

The prefix "hin-" means "there" or "thither". It is often used to indicate that something is going there or moving away. For example, the word "hingehen" means "to go there", and the word "hinauf" means "upwards".

15. mit-

The prefix "mit-" means "with" or "together". It is often used to indicate that something is being done together with something else. For example, the word "mitbringen" means "to bring with", and the word "mitmachen" means "to participate".

16. nach-

The prefix "nach-" means "after" or "according to". It is often used to indicate that something is following or coming after something else. For example, the word "nachfolgen" means "to follow", and the word "nachmachen" means "to imitate".

17. nieder-

The prefix "nieder-" means "down" or "low". It is often used to indicate that something is going down or becoming lower. For example, the word "niedergehen" means "to go down", and the word "niederschlagen" means "to strike down".

18. ob-

The prefix "ob-" means "over" or "above". It is often used to indicate that something is covering or exceeding something else. For example, the word "oben" means "above", and the word "oberhalb" means "above".

19. um-

The prefix "um-" means "around" or "about". It is often used to indicate that something is surrounding or enclosing something else. For example, the word "umgeben" means "to surround", and the word "umkehren" means "to turn around".

20. unter-

The prefix "unter-" means "under" or "below". It is often used to indicate that something is below or subordinate to something else. For example, the word "untergehen" means "to go under", and the word "unterstützen" means "to support".

21. ver-

The prefix "ver-" has several different meanings. It can mean "to make" or "to become", as in the word "verändern" (to change). It can also mean "to separate" or "to divide", as in the word "verteilen" (to distribute). Finally, it can mean "to intensify" or "to strengthen", as in the word "verstärken" (to strengthen).

22. vor-

The prefix "vor-" means "before" or "in front of". It is often used to indicate that something is in front of or ahead of something else. For example, the word "vorher" means "before", and the word "vorstellen" means "to introduce".

23. weg-

The prefix "weg-" means "away" or "off". It is often used to indicate that something is moving away or disappearing. For example, the word "weggehen" means "to go away", and the word "wegwerfen" means "to throw away".

24. wider-

The prefix "wider-" means "against" or "opposite". It is often used to indicate that something is opposing or conflicting with something else. For example, the word "widerlich" means "disgusting", and the word "widersprechen" means "to contradict".

25. zer-

The prefix "zer-" means "to break" or "to destroy". It is often used to indicate

2025-01-06

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