verb

zumachen

Etwas schließen, damit es nicht mehr offen ist.

Definition & meaning

zumachen means to close or shut something, such as a door, window, container, or shop.

It can also mean to close down a business or facility, either temporarily or permanently. In informal speech, it may mean to shut someone up or stop talking, as in Mach den Mund zu! (“Shut your mouth!”).

Grammar & Word origin

zumachen is a separable verb, formed from zu (“closed” or “shut”) and machen (“to make” or “do”). In a main clause, the prefix moves to the end: Ich mache die Tür zu (“I’m closing the door”). Its past participle is zugemacht.

It is usually transitive, taking an object: ein Fenster zumachen (“close a window”).

Synonyms & antonyms

schließen — “to close”; a neutral, slightly more formal alternative to zumachen.
verschließen — “to shut” or “secure”; emphasizes making something inaccessible or locking it.
dichtmachen — “to close down”; often used informally for a business or venue.
öffnen — “to open”; the general opposite of zumachen.
aufmachen — “to open”; informal and especially common as the direct opposite of zumachen.

Common phrases & collocations

die Tür zumachen — to close the door
das Fenster zumachen — to close the window
den Laden zumachen — to close a shop or business
den Mund zumachen — literally “to close one’s mouth”; informally, “to shut up”