I.

Prepositions as separable prefixes

Most prepositions can be made into separable prefixes, and most separable prefixes are originally
prepositions. These prefixes change the new verb's meaning in a way that is often related to the original
meaning of the preposition. Here are some examples for the most common separable prefixes:

preposition/prefix example english

(general meaning)

AB- (away) abfahren depart

absagen cancel

AN- (towards) ankommen arrive

anfangen begin

AUF- (up, on) aufstehen wake up

aufhören stop

AUS- (out, also suggests completion) aussteigen get out (of a bus)
ausstehen stand somebody

EIN- (in) einsteigen get in (a bus, train)

einladen invite

LOS- (indicates beginning something) losgehen get started

losbrechen break loose/escape (break out)

MIT- (with, along) mitbringen bring along

mitkommen come with, come along

NACH- (after, follow) nachholen make up (work, homework)

nachlaufen run after someone (literally)

VOR- (before, ahead, forward) vorlesen read out loud

vorspielen play (e.g., a film)

WEG- (away) wegwerfen throw away

weglaufen run away
Below are some of the most commonly used separable prefix verbs with English equivalents. The first
column offers some general meanings associated with the prefixes, but these are only tendencies, not set
rules.

preposition/prefix (general example english

meaning)

AB- (away) abbrennen burn down

abgeben turn in (homework), hand over
abkürzen (ticket)
abnehmen shorten
abschließen lose weight
abtreiben finish, complete
abort

AN- (towards) anerkennen recognize

andeuten hint at, suggest
angeben brag, show off
anklagen accuse
ankleiden dress
anschauen watch
anstellen hire, employ
anweisen instruct
anwenden use

AUF- (up, on) aufatmen breathe a sigh of relief

aufbleiben stay up (person), stay open
aufführen (store)
aufklären perform (e.g., theater play)
auflockern inform, enlighten, clear up
aufnehmen liven up (a party, person)
aufräumen take a picture of (incl. video
aufschlagen images)
aufwachsen tidy/clean up (e.g., room)
open (eyes, book)
grow up

AUS-(out, also suggests ausbilden educate, train

completion) ausbrechen break out
ausdrucken print (e.g., text, picture)
ausdrücken express
 ausflippen freak out (flip out)
ausgeben publish, hand out
ausgehen go out, date
auslachen laugh at (someone)
ausmachen turn off (light), put out (fire)
ausnutzen take advantage of (person,
ausschließen opportunity)
aussprechen lock out, exclude
aussterben pronounce
austauschen die out, go extinct
exchange

EIN- (in) einbrechen break in (horse, into house)

einfallen (es ist mir occur (to someone), come to
eingefallen) mind
einführen introduce (a topic)
einkaufen go shopping, buy
einleben (sich) get used to
einnehmen earn, make money
einrichten furnish (apartment), arrange
einschätzen (furniture)
einschlafen judge, guess (e.g., at size, value)
einschüchtern fall asleep
einwerfen intimidate, bully
einziehen throw in (e.g., remark, towel)
move in (e.g., into a new
apartment)

LOS-(beginning losfahren get going, leave

something) loswerden get rid of, spend, lose

MIT- (with, along) mitbekommen get out (of a lecture), understand

mitfahren ride along
mitfühlen sympathize
mitmachen participate, do something
mitnehmen w/someone
mitspielen take along
mitteilen play along (in a sport)
inform, share knowledge
NACH- (after, follow) nachahmen imitate
nachdenken (ich möchte think about (I'd like to think
darüber ~) about that)
nacherzählen retell, relate (a story)
nachfolgen follow, succeed (e.g., a king)
nachgeben give in (e.g., to pressure)
nachprüfen double check (e.g., essay,
nachschlagen homework)
nachtun look up (e.g., a word in a
nachzählen dictionary)
follow somebody's example
re-count (double check numbers)

VOR- (before, ahead, vorbereiten prepare

forward) vorbestellen order in advance (e.g., books)
vorhaben plan, have in mind
vorkommen come up, happen
vornehmen carry out a task
vorstellen introduce, imagine
vortragen perform (play), give
lecture/opinion

WEG- (away) wegbleiben stay away

wegbringen take/bring away
weggehen go away
wegnehmen take away
wegräumen clear away (e.g., mess)
wegtreten step away
wegziehen pull away