machen
to do · to make · to equal, to come to
Machen is the most common German verb for 'to do' or 'to make'. It is used in a huge range of everyday situations, often where English would use a more specific verb. It is neutral in tone and essential from the very beginning.
What machen means
- to do — General actions, activities, or tasks.
- to make — Creating, producing, or causing something.
- to equal, to come to — In arithmetic: '2 und 2 macht 4'.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where machen was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Und machen sie auch Spiele?And do they also make games?
- Oh, was machen wir nur?Oh, what are we going to do?
- Warum soll ich das denn machen?Why should I do that?
Example sentences
- Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben.I am doing my homework.
- Was machst du am Wochenende?What are you doing on the weekend?
- Er macht einen Kuchen.He is making a cake.
- Das macht nichts.That doesn't matter.
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | mache / machst / macht |
|---|---|
| Simple past | machte |
| Perfect | hat gemacht |
| Separable | no |
| Case | accusative (direct object) |
Machen is a weak verb, so its past forms are regular: machte, hat gemacht.
Common phrases
- das Bett machento make the bed
- einen Fehler machento make a mistake
- sich auf den Weg machento set off
- das macht nichtsit doesn't matter
- was macht das?how much is it? (asking price)
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often overuse 'machen' where German uses a more specific verb, e.g. 'ein Foto machen' is correct, but 'eine Party machen' should be 'eine Party feiern'. When in doubt, check if a more precise verb exists.
Don’t confuse it with
- tun — Tun is also 'to do', but is less common and often used in fixed expressions or with pronouns like 'es'.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'machen' and 'tun'?
Both mean 'to do', but 'machen' is far more common and versatile. 'Tun' is used mainly in fixed phrases, with 'es', or in some regions. In most cases, 'machen' is the safer choice.
How do you conjugate 'machen' in the present tense?
ich mache, du machst, er/sie/es macht, wir machen, ihr macht, sie/Sie machen.
Is 'machen' a separable verb?
No, 'machen' is not separable. However, there are many separable verbs derived from it, like 'aufmachen' (to open) or 'zumachen' (to close).