Translation of German word "machen" to English

machen

/ˈmaxn̩/

Meaning

Verb

To create. To build, construct, produce, or originate.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)Last updated: June 16, 2026

How to use

The weak verb machen ('to make / do') is extremely versatile and conjugates regularly: ich mache, du machst, er macht, hat gemacht. It is used in many idiomatic expressions where English uses different verbs (Hausaufgaben machen — do homework, Foto machen — take a photo).

🇬🇧 English

to make

Example

Wir haben ein Vogelhäuschen für unseren Garten gebaut.

We built a birdhouse for our garden.

Ich werde noch einen Mann aus ihm machen.

I'll make a man out of him.

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Synonyms

to do / actherstellen

Common phrases

Hausaufgaben machen— to do homework
Spaß machen— to be fun / enjoy
sich Sorgen machen— to worry / be anxious (requires reflexive dative)

More Core Verbs words

geben nehmen wissen denken stehen arbeiten spielen lesen schreiben hören sprechen fragen

This concept in other languages

🇬🇧English:make 🇵🇱Polish:tworzyć

📖 Related grammar

The Perfekt Tense in German The Präteritum Tense in German Modal Verbs in German The Konjunktiv II in German Separable Verbs in German Full glossary →

🦊 Conjugation of the verb "machen"Full conjugation →

Present Tense (Präsens)

ich (I)mache

du (you)machst

er/sie/es (he/she/it)macht

wir (we)machen

ihr (you pl.)macht

sie/Sie (they/you formal)machen

Simple Past (Präteritum)

ich (I)machte

er/sie/es (he/she/it)machte

Perfect (Perfekt)

ich habe gemacht

Imperative (Imperativ)

dumach(e)

ihrmacht

SieMachen Sie

Frequency rank: #165 in German

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the definition of the German word "machen"?▼

The German word "machen" is defined as: "To create. To build, construct, produce, or originate."

What does the German word "machen" mean?▼

The German word "machen" means "to make" in English.

How do you pronounce the German word "machen"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "machen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "machen"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "Wir haben ein Vogelhäuschen für unseren Garten gebaut." (which translates as "We built a birdhouse for our garden.").