afmaakt

Afmaakt is a form associated with the Dutch verb afmaken, meaning to finish, complete, or in some contexts to end someone or something. In standard Dutch, afmaken is a separable phrasal verb, so the present tense forms are typically written as two words: hij maakt het af, zij maken de klus af. The base consists of maken (to make) with the prefix af- indicating completion or termination.

Usage and senses

- Finishing tasks: afmaken is used for bringing a task to a conclusion, for example, Het team maakte het project af. We moeten nog het rapport afmaken.

- Finishing touches or end phase: afronden and afmaken are related but afronden emphasizes rounding off, while afmaken stresses completing the remaining steps.

- Violent sense: afmaken can also mean to kill or to finish off someone, as in De moordenaar maakte zijn slachtoffer af. This sense is slangy or colloquial and carries strong connotations.

Grammar and spelling

As a separable verb, the prefix af is typically placed at the end of the clause in finite tenses, with any pronoun placed before the prefix: Hij maakt het af. Het rapport is bijna afgemaakt. The past participle is afgemaakt, used in perfect tense: Hij heeft het afgemaakt. The infinitive is afmaken.

Etymology

The prefix af- in Dutch often conveys completion, removal, or end-state when combined with maken (to make). The compound afmaken therefore broadly means to bring something to its end or to finish it.

See also

- afronden (to round off, to complete)

- beëindigen (to terminate, to end)

- afmaken (verb) for broader senses and related forms