to open
Loading your saved state.
to open
To make something accessible to the public for the first time, for example a shop, an exhibition, or a building.
Nächste Woche wird in der Innenstadt ein neues Einkaufszentrum eröffnet.
A new shopping center will open downtown next week.
'Eröffnen' (to open) consists of the inseparable prefix 'er-' and the verb 'öffnen' (to open). The prefix 'er-' often gives the simple act of opening an official, formal, or first-time dimension.
Der Bürgermeister wird die neue Brücke feierlich eröffnen.
The mayor will officially open the new bridge.
The object of the verb determines the exact meaning. You open a shop (m01), open a meeting (m02), open an account (m03), or open up possibilities (m04).
Sie hat letztes Jahr ein kleines Café eröffnet.
She opened a small café last year.
This meaning is used for the first-time opening of places that are accessible to the public. Typical phrases are: 'ein Geschäft eröffnen' (to open a shop), 'eine Ausstellung eröffnen' (to open an exhibition), 'eine Praxis eröffnen' (to open a practice), or 'eine Filiale eröffnen' (to open a branch).
Die Künstlerin eröffnet nächste Woche ihre neue Ausstellung in Berlin.
The artist is opening her new exhibition in Berlin next week.
When opening an account, the bank or institution is named with the preposition 'bei'.
Er hat ein Sparkonto bei der lokalen Sparkasse eröffnet.
He opened a savings account at the local savings bank.
In this figurative meaning, 'eröffnen' (to open up) is often combined with abstract nouns such as 'Möglichkeiten' (possibilities), 'Chancen' (opportunities), 'Perspektiven' (perspectives), or 'Wege' (paths/ways).
Das Stipendium eröffnete ihr die Möglichkeit, im Ausland zu studieren.
The scholarship opened up the possibility for her to study abroad.
When telling someone important news, the person receiving the information is named in the dative. The structure is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) eröffnen.
Sie musste ihm eröffnen, dass sie den Job in einer anderen Stadt angenommen hatte.
She had to reveal to him that she had accepted the job in another city.
to manage / create
'schaffen' and 'eröffnen' can be similar when something creates new possibilities. Here, 'schaffen' means that something new comes into being or is created. 'eröffnen' puts more emphasis on the fact that this makes access or a new perspective possible. So you can say: 'Eine Idee schafft neue Chancen' (An idea creates new opportunities). You can also say: 'Eine Idee eröffnet neue Chancen' (An idea opens up new opportunities). 'eröffnen' often sounds a bit more formal and fits especially well with 'Möglichkeiten' (possibilities), 'Perspektiven' (perspectives), or 'Chancen' (opportunities).
Das Stipendium eröffnet ihr die Möglichkeit, im Ausland zu studieren.
The scholarship opens up the possibility for her to study abroad.
Der neue Kurs schafft bessere Chancen für junge Leute ohne Ausbildung.
The new course creates better opportunities for young people without vocational training.