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 amuse / enjoy oneself
Sich über jemanden amüsieren and jemanden auslachen can both express mocking laughter directed at a person. Auslachen explicitly focuses on mocking the target person through laughter, often in a hurtful way. Amüsieren über is used for a more mocking reaction in which this direct attack is less strongly emphasized.
Die anderen Kinder lachten den Jungen wegen seines ungewöhnlichen Huts aus.
The other children laughed at the boy because of his unusual hat.
Die Zuschauer amüsierten sich über den ungewöhnlichen Hut des Schauspielers.
The spectators made fun of the actor's unusual hat.
