machen
Was machst du heute Abend?
What are you doing tonight?
to do; to perform an action
Ich muss meine Hausaufgaben machen.
I have to do my homework.
Er macht Sport jeden Morgen.
He exercises every morning.
Used broadly for actions, tasks, or activities. Often interchangeable with 'tun' in casual speech.
to make; to produce or create
Sie macht einen Kuchen.
She is making a cake.
Dieses Unternehmen macht Autos.
This company makes cars.
Focuses on creating or manufacturing something tangible.
to cause to be or become (with adjectives)
Das macht mich glücklich.
That makes me happy.
Die Hitze macht mich müde.
The heat makes me tired.
Often used with adjectives to describe a resulting state or emotion.
to take (time); to last
Die Reise macht drei Stunden.
The trip takes three hours.
Used to indicate the duration of an action or process.
Collocations
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'machen'
While 'machen' is versatile, try to use more specific verbs when possible to improve fluency. For example, instead of 'Ich mache einen Kaffee' (I make a coffee), say 'Ich bereite einen Kaffee zu' (I prepare a coffee) or 'Ich koche Kaffee' (I make coffee).
Gold Rule
Conjugation matters
'Machen' is a strong verb with irregular conjugation in the present tense: ich mache, du machst, er/sie/es macht, wir machen, ihr macht, sie/Sie machen. Pay attention to the stem vowel change in the second and third person singular.
Word Origin
From Middle High German *machen*, from Old High German *mahhōn* ("to make, construct"), from Proto-Germanic *makōną* ("to fit, make"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *magʰ-* ("to be able, to have power"). Cognates include English 'make', Dutch 'maken', and Swedish 'göra'.
Usage Notes
'Machen' is one of the most versatile verbs in German, often used as a general-purpose substitute for specific verbs when the exact action is unclear or unimportant. It is highly context-dependent and can replace verbs like 'herstellen' (to manufacture), 'bewirken' (to cause), or 'durchführen' (to carry out). In informal speech, it is frequently used in place of more precise verbs.