Welcome to Lesson 42 of the Latinum Institute’s German Course. This lesson focuses on the verb “make” - in German: “machen” (to make, do, create, cause).
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “make” mean in German? Answer: “Machen” is one of the most versatile German verbs, meaning “to make,” “to do,” or “to cause.” It forms many compound verbs and expressions. Regular weak verb conjugation: ich mache, du machst, er/sie/es macht, wir machen, ihr macht, sie/Sie machen.
In these 15 examples, you’ll encounter “machen” in various tenses and contexts, including separable prefix verbs (aufmachen, zumachen) and common expressions. This fundamental verb appears constantly in everyday German communication.
Key Takeaways: -
“Machen” follows regular weak verb conjugation -
Forms numerous compounds: aufmachen (open), zumachen (close), mitmachen (participate) -
Past participle: gemacht -
Creates causative constructions
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
-
machen [ˈmaxn̩] - “MAKH-en” with the ‘ch’ as in Scottish “loch” -
macht [maxt] - “makht” -
machst [maxst] - “makhst” -
gemacht [gəˈmaxt] - “ge-MAKHT”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
42.1 Ich I mache make meine my Hausaufgaben homework
42.2 Was what machst make du you heute today Abend? evening
42.3 Sie she macht makes einen a Kuchen cake für for die the Party party
42.4 Das that macht makes nichts nothing
42.5 Wir we machen make Urlaub vacation in in Italien Italy
42.6 Er he hat has einen a Fehler mistake gemacht made
42.7 Mach make bitte please das the Fenster window auf! open
42.8 Die the Kinder children machen make zu too viel much Lärm noise
42.9 Das that macht makes zusammen together zwanzig twenty Euro euros
42.10 Sie she macht makes sich herself Sorgen worries um about ihn him
42.11 Ich I mache make mir myself-DAT einen a Kaffee coffee
42.12 Was what kann can man one dagegen against-it machen? make
42.13 Er he macht makes immer always alles everything richtig right
42.14 Wir we haben have es it geschafft! made
42.15 Mach make dir yourself-DAT keine no Gedanken! thoughts
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
42.1 “I’m doing my homework.”
42.2 “What are you doing tonight?”
42.3 “She’s making a cake for the party.”
42.4 “That doesn’t matter.” (Literally: “That makes nothing”)
42.5 “We’re taking a vacation in Italy.”
42.6 “He made a mistake.”
42.7 “Please open the window!”
42.8 “The children are making too much noise.”
42.9 “That comes to twenty euros altogether.”
42.10 “She’s worried about him.”
42.11 “I’m making myself a coffee.”
42.12 “What can one do about it?”
42.13 “He always does everything right.”
42.14 “We made it!” / “We did it!”
42.15 “Don’t worry!” (Literally: “Make yourself no thoughts”)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
42.1 Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben.
42.2 Was machst du heute Abend?
42.3 Sie macht einen Kuchen für die Party.
42.4 Das macht nichts.
42.5 Wir machen Urlaub in Italien.
42.6 Er hat einen Fehler gemacht.
42.7 Mach bitte das Fenster auf!
42.8 Die Kinder machen zu viel Lärm.
42.9 Das macht zusammen zwanzig Euro.
42.10 Sie macht sich Sorgen um ihn.
42.11 Ich mache mir einen Kaffee.
42.12 Was kann man dagegen machen?
42.13 Er macht immer alles richtig.
42.14 Wir haben es geschafft!
42.15 Mach dir keine Gedanken!
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Grammar Rules for This Passage:
“Machen” is a regular weak verb following standard conjugation patterns: -
Present: mache, machst, macht, machen, macht, machen -
Past (Präteritum): machte, machtest, machte, machten, machtet, machten -
Perfect: haben + gemacht -
Imperative: mach! (informal singular), macht! (informal plural), machen Sie! (formal)
Separable Prefix Verbs: -
aufmachen (open): Mach das Fenster auf! -
zumachen (close): Mach die Tür zu! -
mitmachen (participate): Machst du mit? -
The prefix separates in main clauses but stays attached in subordinate clauses
Common Expressions with “machen”: -
sich Sorgen machen (to worry) -
Urlaub machen (to take vacation) -
Hausaufgaben machen (to do homework) -
es macht nichts (it doesn’t matter) -
Spaß machen (to be fun)
Common Mistakes: -
Forgetting to separate prefix in commands: “Aufmach!” instead of “Mach auf!” -
Using wrong auxiliary: “machen” takes “haben” not “sein” in perfect -
Confusing “machen” (make/do) with “tun” (do) -
Missing reflexive pronoun in expressions like “sich Sorgen machen” -
Wrong case after “machen”: needs accusative for direct objects
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
“Machen” appears in countless German idioms and daily expressions. Germans often use “machen” where English might use more specific verbs. “Was machst du?” is the standard casual greeting equivalent to “What’s up?” or “How are you?”
Regional Variations: -
Southern Germany/Austria: “tun” sometimes replaces “machen” colloquially -
Swiss German: “mache” has distinct conjugation forms -
Northern Germany: more likely to use “machen” compounds
Common Idioms: -
“Das macht den Kohl auch nicht fett” (That won’t help either) -
“Mach’s gut!” (Take care! - casual goodbye) -
“aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen” (make a mountain out of a molehill) -
“kurzen Prozess machen” (make short work of something) -
“Ernst machen” (get serious)
Register: -
Formal: “Was kann ich für Sie tun?” instead of “Was kann ich für Sie machen?” -
Informal: extensive use of “machen” in all contexts -
Business: specific verbs preferred over general “machen”
Reminder: Lesson for English speakers learning German
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From Bertolt Brecht’s “Die Dreigroschenoper” (1928):
Part F-A: Interleaved Text Erst first kommt comes das the Fressen, feeding dann then kommt comes die the Moral. morality Erst first muss must man one auch also was something machen make können can
Part F-B: The Text from F-A “Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral. Erst muss man auch was machen können” → “First comes feeding, then comes morality. First one must be able to make something too”
Part F-C: Original Target Language Text of F-A Only Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral. Erst muss man auch was machen können
Part F-D: Grammar Commentary Brecht uses “machen können” (to be able to make/do) in the modal construction. Note “was” as colloquial shortened form of “etwas” (something). The infinitive “machen” pairs with the modal “können” at clause end, typical of German modal verb syntax. “Fressen” (animal feeding) versus “essen” (human eating) creates deliberately crude tone.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
42.16 Heute today machen make wir we Apfelstrudel apple-strudel
42.17 Zuerst first machen make wir we den the-ACC Teig dough
42.18 Man one macht makes eine a Mulde well in in das the Mehl flour
42.19 Dann then macht makes man one das the Ei egg hinein into-it
42.20 Das the Wasser water macht makes man one langsam slowly dazu to-it
42.21 Jetzt now machen make wir we den the Teig dough glatt smooth
42.22 Die the Äpfel apples machen make wir we klein small
42.23 Wir we machen make sie them mit with Zucker sugar süß sweet
42.24 Die the Rosinen raisins machen make den the Strudel strudel besonders especially gut good
42.25 Man one macht makes den the Teig dough sehr very dünn thin
42.26 Die the Füllung filling macht makes man one darauf on-it
42.27 Vorsichtig carefully macht makes man one eine a Rolle roll
42.28 Das that macht makes man one bei at 180 180 Grad degrees
42.29 Nach after 40 40 Minuten minutes ist is er it fertig ready gemacht made
42.30 Guten good Appetit! appetite Das that haben have wir we gut well gemacht! made
Part B: Natural Sentences
42.16 “Today we’re making apple strudel.”
42.17 “First we make the dough.”
42.18 “You make a well in the flour.”
42.19 “Then you add the egg to it.”
42.20 “You add the water slowly.”
42.21 “Now we make the dough smooth.”
42.22 “We chop the apples small.”
42.23 “We sweeten them with sugar.”
42.24 “The raisins make the strudel especially good.”
42.25 “You make the dough very thin.”
42.26 “You put the filling on it.”
42.27 “You carefully make a roll.”
42.28 “You bake it at 180 degrees.”
42.29 “After 40 minutes it’s done.”
42.30 “Enjoy your meal! We did a good job!”
Part C: Target Language Only
42.16 Heute machen wir Apfelstrudel.
42.17 Zuerst machen wir den Teig.
42.18 Man macht eine Mulde in das Mehl.
42.19 Dann macht man das Ei hinein.
42.20 Das Wasser macht man langsam dazu.
42.21 Jetzt machen wir den Teig glatt.
42.22 Die Äpfel machen wir klein.
42.23 Wir machen sie mit Zucker süß.
42.24 Die Rosinen machen den Strudel besonders gut.
42.25 Man macht den Teig sehr dünn.
42.26 Die Füllung macht man darauf.
42.27 Vorsichtig macht man eine Rolle.
42.28 Das macht man bei 180 Grad.
42.29 Nach 40 Minuten ist er fertig gemacht.
42.30 Guten Appetit! Das haben wir gut gemacht!
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
Recipe language demonstrates “machen” in instructional context with impersonal “man” (one) construction. Note how “machen” combines with adjectives to indicate transformation: “klein machen” (make small = chop), “glatt machen” (make smooth), “süß machen” (make sweet). Past participle “gemacht” appears with “fertig” (fertig gemacht = finished/done). The informal “wir” alternates with impersonal “man” for variety in instructions.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The “ch” in “machen” produces the hard “ach-Laut” [x] sound, like Scottish “loch.” This occurs after a, o, u, au. After other vowels, German uses the soft “ich-Laut” [ç].
Common spelling patterns with “machen”: -
Compound nouns: Machthaber (ruler), Machwerk (poor work) -
Separable verbs write as one word in infinitive: aufmachen, zumachen -
But separate in conjugated forms: ich mache auf, er macht zu
The past participle “gemacht” uses ge- prefix typical of weak verbs. In compound verbs with inseparable prefixes (vermachen, entmachen), no ge- appears: vermacht, not gevermacht.
Note: “schaffen” can also mean “to manage/succeed” (as in example 42.14) and takes the same past participle form “geschafft” in this meaning.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Latinum Institute has been creating online language learning materials since 2006. This German course uses the proven construed reading method, presenting texts with detailed interlinear glosses to build comprehension naturally. Our approach emphasizes immediate engagement with authentic language while providing comprehensive grammatical support.
For testimonials and reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Each lesson builds vocabulary systematically while introducing essential grammar patterns through meaningful context rather than isolated rules.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---