Eröffnen

Eröffnen is a German verb meaning to open in the sense of initiating, starting, or officially inaugurating something. It is used with a direct object, typically referring to events, institutions, venues, or processes. For the physical act of opening a door, window, or container, the more common verb is öff­nen; eröffnen emphasizes formality, ceremony, or the beginning of something new. Examples: Die Ausstellung wurde eröffnet. Der Bürgermeister eröffnet die Sitzung. Wir eröffnen ein neues Geschäft.

The word is formed from öffnen with the prefix er-, which adds a sense of initiation, completion, or official start. This prefix often signals that the action is more than just a simple opening and carries a formal or ceremonial nuance.

Grammatically, eröffnen is a transitive verb. The past participle is eröffnet, and it can be used with haben in the perfect tense (Ich habe das Geschäft eröffnet) or in passive constructions (Die Ausstellung wurde eröffnet). The related noun is Eröffnung, meaning the act or event of opening. Other derivations include Eröffnungs- compounds such as Eröffnungsrede (opening speech) and Eröffnungsfeier (opening ceremony).

Common usages include the opening of exhibitions, ceremonies, or institutions, as well as the initiation of negotiations, procedures, or services. It can also describe starting a new project or business venture, as in ein Konto eröffnen (to open an account) or Verhandlungen eröffnen (to begin negotiations).

See also: öffnen; Eröffnung; Eröffnungsrede; Eröffnungsfeier.

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