Learning language
Translation language
preposition

auf

upon

Meaning of auf

Deutsch

oben an einer Fläche, mit Kontakt

English

formal word meaning on or after

upon

Pronunciation

German
[aʊf]
German (Germany)

auf with English translation

auf usage examples

🇩🇪German→🇬🇧English

Er legte die Hand auf meine Schulter.

He put his hand upon my shoulder.

🇩🇪German→🇬🇧English

Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.

The book lies upon the table.

auf synonyms

Related word breakdowns

What's the difference between auf, bei, sobald, nach, nachdem, über, anlässlich, and an

bei
🇩🇪German

Means 'at, during, with, in the presence of'; close to 'upon' when it refers to a situation or occasion, but without the formal tone.

C1very often
S
🇩🇪German
sobald

Means "as soon as" and expresses that one event follows another immediately.

B2often
N
🇩🇪German
nach

Means 'after' in time or sequence; matches only the 'after' sense of 'upon', not the 'on' sense.

C1very often
N
🇩🇪German
nachdem

Connects actions in time and means that one happened after another; close to "after" in the sense of "after having done."

B2often
Ü
🇩🇪German
über

Means 'over, above, about' and only in some cases matches 'upon' in the sense of position on top; in most uses it is not a synonym.

C1very often
G
🇩🇪German
gegen

Means 'against', 'around', or 'towards' (time); only in the approximate-time sense does it partially overlap with 'upon' as 'by/after'.

C1often

Advanced: broader words

A
🇩🇪German
anlässlich

Means 'on the occasion of, in connection with'; used for a reason or event, and is very close to formal 'upon' in official contexts.

C1often
A
🇩🇪German
an

Usually means contact, position at a surface, near something, or the start of an action; it overlaps with upon only in the sense of "on/at."

B2very often

Related words and lists for auf

Questions about this word

What does auf mean?

formal word meaning on or after

How do you pronounce auf?

auf is pronounced [aʊf].

How is auf used in a sentence?

He put his hand upon my shoulder. Translation: Er legte die Hand auf meine Schulter.

Audio practiceExamplesSmart repeats

Learn auf in your vocabulary

Add this word to practice, repeat it with audio, examples and your own word lists.

Your cookie choice

We use necessary cookies to operate the site. Analytics and marketing technologies are enabled only with your permission. Cookies Policy