En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say 'turn off the light' in German.
- Uses the separable verb 'ausmachen'—the 'aus' goes to the end.
- Essential for daily life and being eco-friendly in Germany.
Signification
This is the standard, everyday way to say you're turning off the lights. Whether you're hitting a switch, pulling a cord, or using an app, this is your go-to phrase.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Leaving the living room for bed
Ich mache nur noch schnell das Licht aus.
I'm just quickly turning off the light.
Asking a roommate to help
Kannst du bitte das Licht im Flur ausmachen?
Can you please turn off the light in the hallway?
In a professional office setting
Vergessen Sie bitte nicht, das Licht auszumachen.
Please do not forget to turn off the light.
Contexte culturel
Germans are very environmentally conscious. Leaving the light on in an empty room is often considered rude or wasteful. Similar to Germany, energy saving is a high priority. Many public buildings have motion sensors to ensure the light is 'ausgemacht' automatically. In Austria, you might hear 'abdrehen' instead of 'ausmachen', especially among older generations. 'Earth Hour' is widely observed in German cities, where major landmarks 'das Licht ausmachen' for one hour.
The 'Aus' Rule
Always put 'aus' at the very end. Even if the sentence is long: 'Ich mache in meinem großen, blauen Zimmer das Licht **aus**.'
Don't 'Close' it!
Never say 'Licht schließen'. It's the most common mistake for A1 learners.
En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say 'turn off the light' in German.
- Uses the separable verb 'ausmachen'—the 'aus' goes to the end.
- Essential for daily life and being eco-friendly in Germany.
What It Means
Das Licht ausmachen is the bread and butter of German household vocabulary. It literally means 'to make the light off.' In English, we 'turn' or 'switch' things off. In German, you 'make' them off. It is simple, direct, and used by everyone from toddlers to CEOs.
How To Use It
This phrase uses a separable verb, ausmachen. This means the aus part likes to jump to the very end of your sentence. If you want to say 'I am turning off the light,' you say Ich mache das Licht aus. It feels like a little grammatical surprise at the end! If you use a helper verb like 'can' or 'must,' the whole phrase stays together at the end: Kannst du das Licht ausmachen?
When To Use It
Use it whenever a room is too bright or you are leaving. It is perfect for bedtime routines. Use it when you are leaving the office for the day. It is also the right choice when you are trying to be romantic and want to dim the mood. Just don't do it while someone is still reading! That is a classic way to start a small family argument.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using ausmachen for a candle or a campfire. For those, you should use auspusten (blow out) or löschen (extinguish). Also, while you can ausmachen a TV or a radio, das Licht ausmachen is specifically for illumination. If you are in a very high-tech lab, you might hear ausschalten instead. It sounds a bit more technical and precise.
Cultural Background
Germans are famous for being environmentally conscious. Electricity is also quite expensive in Germany compared to the US. Leaving a light on in an empty room is often seen as wasteful. You might even get a gentle reminder from a roommate or partner. There was also a very famous German TV show called 'Licht aus, Spot an!' (Light off, spot on!). It made the phrase part of pop culture history.
Common Variations
You will often hear das Licht ausschalten. It means the exact same thing but sounds slightly more formal. In some regions, you might hear das Licht löschen, though that sounds a bit old-fashioned now. If you are feeling lazy, you can just say Licht aus! as a command. It’s short, punchy, and gets the job done immediately.
Notes d'usage
This phrase is safe to use in 99% of situations. It is neutral in register, meaning it works with friends, family, and even your boss.
The 'Aus' Rule
Always put 'aus' at the very end. Even if the sentence is long: 'Ich mache in meinem großen, blauen Zimmer das Licht **aus**.'
Don't 'Close' it!
Never say 'Licht schließen'. It's the most common mistake for A1 learners.
Energy Saving
If you want to impress Germans, be proactive about turning off lights in empty rooms.
Exemples
6Ich mache nur noch schnell das Licht aus.
I'm just quickly turning off the light.
A very common way to announce you're finishing up for the night.
Kannst du bitte das Licht im Flur ausmachen?
Can you please turn off the light in the hallway?
Using 'kannst du' makes the request polite but friendly.
Vergessen Sie bitte nicht, das Licht auszumachen.
Please do not forget to turn off the light.
The 'Sie' form makes this appropriate for a workplace reminder.
Licht aus? Bin müde.
Light off? I'm tired.
Shortened version perfect for quick texts.
Soll ich das Licht ausmachen, oder bleibst du ewig im Bad?
Should I turn off the light, or are you staying in the bathroom forever?
A playful way to tease someone for taking too long.
Gute Nacht, ich mache jetzt das Licht aus.
Good night, I'm turning off the light now.
A standard part of a bedtime routine.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'ausmachen'.
Ich ______ das Licht ______.
In a simple sentence, the prefix 'aus' goes to the end.
Which sentence is correct?
Asking a friend to turn off the light:
'Schließen' is wrong for lights, and 'aus' must be at the end.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hast du das Licht im Bad ______? B: Ja, es ist aus.
The perfect tense (past) requires 'ausgemacht'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are leaving the office and want to remind your colleague.
This is the standard way to remind someone to turn off the lights.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIch ______ das Licht ______.
In a simple sentence, the prefix 'aus' goes to the end.
Asking a friend to turn off the light:
'Schließen' is wrong for lights, and 'aus' must be at the end.
A: Hast du das Licht im Bad ______? B: Ja, es ist aus.
The perfect tense (past) requires 'ausgemacht'.
Situation: You are leaving the office and want to remind your colleague.
This is the standard way to remind someone to turn off the lights.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes, you can use 'ausmachen' for phones, TVs, and radios in a casual way, though 'ausschalten' is more precise.
'Ausmachen' is more colloquial and general. 'Ausschalten' is more technical and refers to the switch (Schalter).
It depends on the tone. It's a direct command. To be polite, say 'Kannst du bitte das Licht ausmachen?'
The opposite is 'anmachen'. 'Ich mache das Licht an.'
Yes, usually you say 'das Licht'. Without 'das', it sounds like a general concept rather than a specific lamp.
Expressions liées
das Licht anmachen
contrastTo turn the light on
das Licht ausschalten
similarTo switch off the light
das Licht ausknipsen
specialized formTo flick off the light
Strom sparen
builds onTo save electricity
