aufhören

/ˈaʊfˌhøːʁən/
verbIntermediate
general

To stop doing something, either permanently or temporarily.

Kannst du bitte mit dem Lärm aufhören?

Can you please stop making noise?

Sie hat beschlossen, mit dem Trinken aufzuhören.

She decided to stop drinking.

💡

Often used with 'mit' + dative to specify what is being stopped.

💻Technology
technical

To cease functioning or operating (for machines or systems).

Der Motor hat plötzlich aufgehört zu arbeiten.

The engine suddenly stopped working.

💡

Used in technical contexts to describe mechanical or electronic failures.

Collocations

mit etwas aufhörento stop doing somethingaufhören zu + infinitiveto stop + verb

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

aufhören zu + infinitivephrase
to stop doing something

💡Pro Tip

Separable Prefix

Remember that 'aufhören' is a separable verb, so in perfect tenses, the prefix 'auf-' moves to the end of the sentence.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning can vary slightly depending on whether it's used for actions, habits, or mechanical functions.

📖Word Origin

From Middle High German 'aufhœren', from 'auf-' (up) + 'hœren' (to stop).

📝Usage Notes

The verb is separable, meaning the prefix 'auf-' can be separated in certain grammatical constructions.

Word Breakdown

auf-
up, away
prefix
+
hören
to stop
root
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