maken

Maken is a Dutch verb that means to make, to create, to produce, or to perform an action that results in something. It is widely used in everyday speech to describe both physical construction and more abstract processes, such as making plans, making a decision, or making a meal. The verb often appears in a variety of fixed phrases, including making an appointment, making a mistake, or making sense of something.

Etymology and related forms: Maken comes from Old Dutch maken and is cognate with German machen and English make. It derives from Proto-Germanic *makjaną, reflecting a common Germanic lineage for “to make.” As a regular verb, it forms its tenses with standard Dutch endings, rather than with strong or irregular stem changes.

Conjugation and usage: In the present tense, forms are ik maak, jij maakt, hij maakt, wij maken, jullie maken, zij maken. The past tense is formed as ik maakte, jij maakte, hij maakte, wij maakten, jullie maakten, zij maakten. The past participle is gemaakt, and the perfect tense is formed with hebben, e.g., ik heb gemaakt, jij hebt gemaakt, hij heeft gemaakt. Maken is transitive and typically takes a direct object, as in “een maaltijd maken” (to prepare a meal) or “een fout maken” (to make a mistake). It also participates in numerous separable and inseparable compounds, such as afmaken (to finish), uitmaken (to decide or to switch off), and in phrases like “iets van iets maken” (to make something out of something).

Noun and related terms: The noun making or production is het maken. The verb expresses a broad range of activities and is often preferred over synonyms like doen when a specific creation or result is emphasized.

In summary, maken is a foundational Dutch verb used for creating, performing actions, and producing outcomes, with wide applicability across everyday speech.