to laugh at
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to laugh at
To make fun of someone or something by laughing loudly, often in a hurtful or condescending way.
Es ist gemein, jemanden auszulachen, nur weil er einen Fehler gemacht hat.
It is mean to laugh at someone just because they made a mistake.
'Auslachen' (to laugh at) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'aus' goes at the end of the sentence. In a subordinate clause with a conjunction like 'weil' (because) or 'dass' (that), the verb stays together at the end.
Die anderen Kinder lachten ihn wegen seiner alten Schuhe aus.
The other children laughed at him because of his old shoes.
The verb 'auslachen' (to laugh at) is always used with a direct accusative object. You laugh at 'jemanden' (someone), without needing an additional preposition like 'über' (about/at).
Warum lachst du mich aus? Das ist nicht witzig!
Why are you laughing at me? That's not funny!
This word has a strongly negative meaning. It does not describe cheerful, shared laughter, but rather mocking and often hurtful making fun of another person.
Anstatt ihm zu helfen, haben sie ihn nur ausgelacht.
Instead of helping him, they only laughed at him.
to laugh
'lachen' and 'auslachen' can both involve loud laughter. The difference lies in the effect on others. 'lachen' is often neutral or positive: you laugh because something is funny. 'auslachen' means that you laugh at someone or something and make fun of them. This is often hurtful. Learners can easily confuse the words because 'über jemanden lachen' (to laugh at someone) can already be negative. But 'auslachen' expresses this negative intention much more clearly.
Bitte lach deinen Bruder nicht aus, nur weil er einen Fehler gemacht hat.
Please don't laugh at your brother just because he made a mistake.
Sie lachen, weil der Film wirklich komisch ist.
They are laughing because the film is really funny.