German Conversation · Level 134
29 words
German word
aufbrechen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈaʊ̯fˌbʁɛçn̩/
Meaning
- verbleave
Example
Er ist um sechs aufgebrochen.
He left at six.
More examples
Morgen wollen wir in aller Frühe aufbrechen.
Tomorrow we intend to set off at the crack of dawn.
Core concept
A closed boundary gives way, allowing a person to move out or an object to be opened.
Common phrases
zu neuen Ufern aufbrechen
set off for new shores
in aller Frühe aufbrechen
set off at the crack of dawn
von zu Hause aufbrechen
leave home
Similar words
losgehen: Go on foot from a place and get moving.
losfahren: Start driving away in a vehicle.
abfahren: Begin a scheduled journey from its departure point.
abreisen: Set out for travel or an errand after a stay.
Definition in German
losgehen oder eine Reise beginnen; intransitiv: sich entfernen; transitiv: mit Gewalt etwas öffnen (z. B. eine Tür)
Word origin
The verb combines the separable prefix "auf-" with "brechen" and extends the idea of breaking open to setting out from a closed place.
Usage tips
- As a separable verb, "aufbrechen" places "auf" at the end of a main clause, as in "Er bricht um sechs auf."