aufräumen

Aufräumen is a German verb meaning to tidy up, to clean up, or to put things in order. It covers removing clutter, sorting items, and returning objects to their designated places. The term can refer to physical spaces as well as to organizing digital items such as files or emails.

Grammar: Aufräumen is a separable verb with the prefix auf-. In the present tense it is split: ich räume das Zimmer auf. The past participle is aufgeräumt and is used with haben in perfect tenses: ich habe das Zimmer aufgeräumt. The noun das Aufräumen denotes the act or process of tidying.

Usage: In daily life, people use it for housekeeping, but also for preparing spaces for visitors, or clearing a desk. In a digital context, it can mean organizing folders, deleting unnecessary files, or archiving. In workplaces, it can describe tidying a shared area, labeling materials, or setting things in order to improve efficiency.

Etymology and related terms: The verb combines the prefix auf- with räumen, a base meaning to clear or arrange. Related concepts include Ordnung schaffen (to create order), Ordnung halten (to maintain order), and sauber machen (to clean). Aufräumen emphasizes overall tidiness and systematizing spaces rather than merely cleaning visible surfaces.