herrichten
to prepare
To prepare something for a specific purpose, put it in order, or repair it.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen das Gästezimmer für unseren Besuch noch herrichten.
We still have to prepare the guest room for our visitors.
herrichten
to prepare / to get ready
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Meanings
sich herrichten
to get ready
To get oneself ready for an occasion through clothing, hairstyle, and makeup; to dress up.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich für die Party besonders schön hergerichtet.
She got herself especially nicely ready for the party.
jemanden herrichten
to tear into someone
To sharply criticize someone, verbally attack them, or speak badly about them. Often in the phrase 'jemanden übel herrichten' (to really tear into someone).
EXAMPLE
In der Teamsitzung wurde der Kollege für seinen Fehler übel hergerichtet.
In the team meeting, the colleague was really torn into for his mistake.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Herrichten' (to prepare/to get ready) is a separable verb. The prefix 'her-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu' (to), the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Sie richtet die Wohnung für die Feier her.
She prepares the apartment for the celebration.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the object: If it is about a thing (e.g., a room), it means 'vorbereiten' (to prepare). If it is reflexive ('sich herrichten'), it means 'to get ready/dress up'. If a person is the object, it is usually about criticism.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte den Tisch für das Abendessen herrichten?
Could you please prepare the table for dinner?
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'vorbereiten' (to prepare), 'herrichten' is often used for rooms, meals, or places. Typical objects are 'das Zimmer' (the room), 'das Essen' (the food/meal), 'den Garten' (the garden), or 'die Wohnung' (the apartment).
EXAMPLE
Für die Geburtstagsfeier haben wir das ganze Wohnzimmer hergerichtet.
For the birthday party, we prepared the entire living room.
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich herrichten' (to get ready) always means that a person takes care of their appearance and prepares for an occasion. The reflexive pronoun changes according to the person (ich richte mich her, du richtest dich her).
EXAMPLE
Warum hast du dich so schick hergerichtet? Gehst du aus?
Why did you get so dressed up? Are you going out?
Fixed expression
In the meaning 'kritisieren' (to criticize), the verb is often intensified by an adverb like 'übel' (badly/harshly), 'schlimm' (terribly), or 'ordentlich' (properly/really). The phrase 'jemanden übel herrichten' (to really tear into someone) is very common.
EXAMPLE
Die Presse hat den Politiker nach seiner Rede übel hergerichtet.
The press tore into the politician after his speech.
Compare with
herrichten vs präparieren
to prepare / preserve / rig
Both verbs can mean preparing something for a specific purpose. „Herrichten“ is more general and can be used for getting something into shape, while „präparieren“ emphasizes targeted, more specialized treatment. For a ski slope, „präparieren“ is the usual choice, while „herrichten“ remains possible as a more general description.
herrichten
Die Helfer richteten die Skipiste vor dem Training her.
The helpers prepared the ski slope before training.
präparieren
Das Team präparierte die Skipiste für den Wettkampf.
The team prepared the ski slope for the competition.
In real life
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