Abkratzen

Abkratzen is a German verb meaning to remove a coating or layer from a surface by scraping. Typical targets are paint, varnish, ice, or dried residue. The action is performed with a scraper, blade, or another abrasive implement, and the result is that the coating is scraped away from the underlying material.

Morphology and usage notes: Abkratzen is a separable verb with the prefix ab-, as in ich kratze die Farbe ab. The past participle is abgekratzt. In ordinary present tense, you can say zum Beispiel: Ich kratze die Farbe ab. The term is used in technical, maintenance, and renovation contexts and carries a neutral, descriptive tone.

Contexts and examples: It is common in construction, automotive repair, cleaning, and maintenance to describe the removal of coatings or deposits. It can refer to removing paint from a surface before refinishing, scraping ice from a window, or removing dried residue from equipment. The process is typically intentional and aimed at preparing a surface for further treatment, though aggressive scraping can damage the substrate.

Related terms and nuance: Abkratzen is closely related to abschaben (to scrape off, often implying more significant removal or chipping) and to kratzen (to scratch). The noun form das Abkratzen refers to the act itself or to the material that has been scraped away.

See also: Kratzen, Abschaben, Schälen.