aufwerten

Aufwerten is a German verb meaning to increase the value or status of something, or to upgrade. The related noun Aufwertung denotes the act or result of such an increase. The term is widely used in economics, finance, and everyday language. It derives from the prefix auf- meaning up or upward, and Wert meaning value.

In economics and finance, Aufwertung most often refers to currency revaluation or to the upward reassessment of assets and prices. A currency Aufwertung means that the value of the currency rises relative to other currencies, influencing exchange rates, import costs, and competitiveness. It can be driven by monetary policy, market forces, or a combination of both, and is opposite to Abwertung (devaluation). In accounting and asset management, entities may perform an asset Aufwertung by revaluing properties, securities, or inventories at current market values, affecting balance sheets and reported earnings.

In non-financial contexts, Aufwerten describes improvements that enhance perceived quality or usefulness. This can include upgrading a product with new features, improving service levels, or boosting brand image. Renovations can Aufwerten a property, while software updates can also Aufwerten functionality and user experience.

Grammatical note: Aufwerten is a separable-prefix verb. In present tense: ich werte auf, du wertest auf, er wertet auf; perfect: ich habe aufgewertet. The verb can also appear in passive constructions such as etwas wird aufgewertet.