Dictionary verb aus verb *mag- machen ausmachen

Meanings

1.
to turn off, to switch off
(There are other options like "ausschalten" but this one is by far the most common in daily life.)
How useful:
Opposite (closest): anmachen
2.
to make out (distinguish, recognize)
(Rarely used, but it's a parallel to English.)
How useful:
3.
to agree (on something with someone)
("etwas mit jemandem ausmachen" - in the sense of finding an appointment or a some sort of contract. NOT for agreeing to someone's opinion.)
How useful:
4.
to faze someone, to mind,
("jemandem etwas/nichts ausmachen" - think of it as "be a turn-off to someone", but it's not as colloquial sounding.)
How useful:
5.
to have a (big) effect, make a/no difference
(Usually used in combination with "viel" or "wenig" or "nichts")
How useful:
6.
to define, to make
(Usually in the phrasing "X macht Y aus." - "X is what makes Y.")
How useful:

Examples

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My Articles

German Prefix Verbs Explained - "ausmachen"

A fun look at the various meanings of "ausmachen" and what turning something off has to do with agreements, findings and bothering. Also: rausmachen.


German Prefix Verbs Explained - "anmachen"

"anmachen" is one of the most useful prefix verbs. Today, we'll explore the various meanings and see what connects them all. Also: ranmachen.


Word Family

Root: *mag-

The core idea of this root was:

kneading, fitting

And its main field of use originally was “kneading” clay to build a house.
The sense has broadened a lot in the verb to make, but the original sense is still visible in most of the other relatives.

  • mass (originally: “unshaped lump of matter”)
  • match (originally: “masses fitting well”)
  • magma (originally: “thick dough like matter”)
  • among (originally: “kneaded together”)
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