01
abwaschen
to wash up
To clean used dishes, cutlery, and cooking utensils with water and dish soap.
example
Wer kocht, muss hinterher nicht abwaschen.
Whoever cooks doesn't have to wash up afterward.
abwaschen
to wash up / wash off
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abwaschen' (to wash up / wash off) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ab' stands at the end of the sentence. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Ich wasche schnell das Geschirr ab.
I'll quickly wash the dishes.
Use without object
When 'abwaschen' is used without an object, it almost always means 'das Geschirr spülen' (to wash the dishes). The object 'das Geschirr' (the dishes) is then simply left out because it is clear from the context.
EXAMPLE
Heute Abend koche ich und du wäschst ab, einverstanden?
Tonight I'll cook and you wash up, agreed?
Reflexive use
When you clean a part of your own body, the verb is often used reflexively with a dative pronoun. The structure is: 'sich (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) abwaschen' (to wash something off oneself).
EXAMPLE
Du solltest dir vor dem Essen die Hände abwaschen.
You should wash your hands before eating.
Compare with
abwaschen vs waschen
to wash
'waschen' and 'abwaschen' both mean to clean something with water. 'waschen' is more general and is especially used for clothing, the body, or body parts. 'abwaschen' is very often used for dishes, cutlery, and pots. It also fits when you remove dirt from a surface or from a body part. Learners can easily confuse the words because both have to do with water and cleaning. As a simple guide: you use 'waschen' for clothes and the whole body; for dishes, you use 'abwaschen' or 'abspülen'.
abwaschen
Nach dem Essen wäscht Anna die Teller und Gläser ab.
After eating, Anna washes the plates and glasses.
waschen
Nach dem Training wäscht sich Max schnell im Bad.
After training, Max quickly washes up in the bathroom.
In real life
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