aufdrehen

Aufdrehen is a German separable verb formed from drehen (to turn) with the prefix auf-, indicating an opening or an increase in level. It is used when a control is turned to allow more flow or to raise a setting. Common contexts include turning up volume or brightness, opening a faucet, increasing heat or air, and starting or intensifying a device’s operation.

In daily usage, the prefix is separated in the present tense: ich drehe die Lautstärke auf (I turn up the volume). In perfect tense it forms with aufgedreht: ich habe die Lautstärke aufgedreht. The object is typically a knob, valve, or control such as die Lautstärke (volume), der Hahn or Wasserhahn (faucet), die Heizung (heater), or die Lampe (lamp).

Typical examples:

- Bitte drehe die Lautstärke auf. (Please turn the volume up.)

- Kannst du den Wasserhahn aufdrehen? (Can you turn on/open the faucet?)

- Wir müssen die Heizung aufdrehen, es ist kalt. (We need to turn up the heating.)

Notes:

- Aufdrehen often conveys increasing a setting by twisting a control rather than simply opening something; it contrasts with öffnen or aufmachen in broader, non-control-specific senses.

- The opposite is abdrehen, which can mean turning something down or off.

- In contexts like engines or motors, aufdrehen can imply accelerating by increasing throttle or flow, though more specific terms may be used depending on the situation.