verb

erstellen

create

Etwas neu machen oder anfertigen, das vorher noch nicht da war.

Definition & meaning

erstellen means to create, produce, or prepare something, often by carrying out a planned process. It is commonly used for making documents, lists, plans, reports, or digital content.

Depending on context, it can also mean to draw up or to generate something—for example, preparing a report or generating a file.

Grammar & word origin

erstellen is a regular verb. Its principal forms are erstellte (simple past) and hat erstellt (present perfect). The prefix er- is inseparable, so the participle does not take ge-.

The word combines er- with stellen, meaning “to put” or “to place.” In this compound, it refers to bringing something into being or producing it.

Synonyms & antonyms

herstellen — “to manufacture” or “to produce”; often emphasizes making a physical product.
anfertigen — “to make” or “to prepare”; often suggests producing something carefully or to order.
verfassen — “to compose” or “to write”; specifically used for texts.
generieren — “to generate”; often used for results or content produced automatically.

There is no single direct antonym. Depending on what is being created, possible opposites include löschen (“to delete”) for digital content, or zerstören (“to destroy”) for something physical.