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aufgeben
/ˈaʊfˌɡeːbn̩/
to give up
Er gab auf, weil er keine Lösung fand.
He gave up because he couldn't find a solution.
general
to surrender, stop trying, or abandon an effort/hope
Gib niemals auf, wenn du an etwas glaubst.
Never give up if you believe in something.
Reflexive form 'sich aufgeben' is used for surrendering in a fight or competition.
general
to send (mail), post, or hand in (documents)
Ich muss diesen Brief noch aufgeben.
I still need to post this letter.
Bitte geben Sie Ihre Pässe am Schalter auf.
Please hand in your passports at the counter.
Common in postal and administrative contexts.
general
to offer (a price, bet, or guess)
Wie viel geben Sie für dieses Auto auf?
How much will you offer for this car?
Used in auctions, negotiations, or games.
Collocations
die Hoffnung aufgebento lose hopeden Kampf aufgebento give up the fighteinen Brief aufgebento post a letter
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Separable Prefix
Remember that 'auf-' moves to the end of the clause in main clauses (e.g., 'Ich gebe heute auf').
Gold Rule
Context is Key
Always check if 'aufgeben' refers to quitting an activity or sending mail, as the English equivalents differ significantly.
Word Origin
From 'auf-' (up/out) + 'geben' (to give). Originally meant to hand something over or send it out; extended to mean abandoning an effort (giving it up) or offering a price.
Usage Notes
Separable verb: 'Ich gebe auf' (present), 'Ich habe aufgegeben' (perfect). The prefix 'auf-' is stressed in pronunciation. Context determines whether it means 'surrender' or 'post/mail'.
Word Breakdown
auf-
up, out, over
prefixgeben
to give
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