01
aufziehen
to raise
To bring up a child or a young animal, caring for it and educating or training it.
example
Sie hat ihre drei Kinder alleine aufgezogen.
She raised her three children on her own.
aufziehen
to raise / to tease / to wind up
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 06
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Aufziehen' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'auf' comes at the end. In subordinate clauses and infinitive constructions, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Jeden Abend zieht sie die alte Standuhr auf.
Every evening she winds up the old grandfather clock.
Word structure
The verb is based on 'ziehen' (to pull). The prefix 'auf' often means 'upward'. This literal meaning, pulling something upward, appears in many of the figurative meanings too, e.g. 'hochziehen' (to pull up / raise) a child or 'aufspannen' (to tension/wind) a clock.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte den Reißverschluss an meinem Kleid aufziehen?
Could you please pull up the zipper on my dress?
Context: children & animals
In this meaning, the object is always a living being that needs care and upbringing. Typical objects are 'Kinder' (children), 'ein Baby' (a baby), or young animals such as 'Welpen' (puppies) or 'Kätzchen' (kittens).
EXAMPLE
Meine Großeltern haben fünf Kinder aufgezogen.
My grandparents raised five children.
Sentence structure: teasing someone
When 'aufziehen' means 'necken' (to tease), the object is a person in the accusative. It is often supplemented with 'mit' + dative to indicate what someone is being made fun of for.
EXAMPLE
Er zieht seinen kleinen Bruder immer mit seiner Angst vor Spinnen auf.
He always teases his little brother about his fear of spiders.
Context: mechanics
You can recognize this meaning from the object: it is always a mechanical device that has a spring that must be wound. Typical phrases are 'eine Uhr aufziehen' (to wind a watch/clock) or 'eine Spieluhr aufziehen' (to wind up a music box).
EXAMPLE
Mein Opa hat mir gezeigt, wie man seine alte Taschenuhr aufzieht.
My grandpa showed me how to wind up his old pocket watch.
Context: opening & tightening
Here the object is something that you pull upward in order to open something or make it visible. Typical objects are 'Rollläden' (shutters), 'Jalousien' (blinds), 'Vorhänge' (curtains), or 'eine Flagge' (a flag).
EXAMPLE
Jeden Morgen wird vor dem Rathaus die Flagge aufgezogen.
Every morning the flag is raised in front of city hall.
Sentence structure: weather
In this meaning, the verb is used without an object. The subject is always a weather event such as 'ein Gewitter' (a thunderstorm), 'ein Sturm' (a storm), or 'ein Unwetter' (severe weather).
EXAMPLE
Wir sollten reingehen, dunkle Wolken ziehen auf.
We should go inside; dark clouds are coming in.
Compare with
aufziehen vs spannen
to stretch / tighten / peep
'spannen' and 'aufziehen' can both have to do with something being pulled and put under tension. 'spannen' generally says that something becomes tight or taut, for example a string, fabric, or even a piece of clothing that is too tight. 'aufziehen' is more specific in certain situations: you wind up a watch, pull up a shutter, or stretch a canvas onto a frame. The words can be confused because both often involve a pulling movement. As a guide: for pure tension, 'spannen' usually fits; for a fixed action such as with a watch, shutter, or mounting something, 'aufziehen' often fits.
aufziehen
Vor dem Schlafengehen zieht Max seine alte Uhr auf.
Before going to bed, Max winds up his old watch.
spannen
Die neue Hose spannt am Bauch, deshalb nehme ich eine Nummer größer.
The new pants feel tight around the stomach, so I'll take one size larger.
In real life
Loading video examples...