die Lautstärke aufdrehen
To turn up the volume in German is die Lautstärke aufdrehen.
This phrase is used when you want to increase the loudness of a device that plays sound. A common, slightly more colloquial alternative is lauter machen, which means to make louder.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb aufdrehen literally means to turn something open, such as a water tap or a valve. This concept of turning a valve open is why it is used for increasing volume.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because aufdrehen is a separable verb, the prefix auf moves to the end of the sentence in a main clause. For example, you would say Dreh die Lautstärke auf!
Did you know?
- The phrase aufdrehen is often used metaphorically in German to describe 'cranking up' the intensity of a situation, such as a high-pressure sports match or a heated argument.
- The root of the verb drehen is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'throw', which is also found in the term 'upthrow'.
- The word Lautstärke is a compound of 'loud' and 'strength', suggesting that volume is a measure of how much 'power' or 'strength' the sound possesses.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigen Sie, könnten Sie bitte die Lautstärke erhöhen? Die hinteren Reihen haben Schwierigkeiten, den Sprecher zu hören.Excuse me, could you please increase the volume? The back rows are having difficulty hearing the speaker.
- Hey, könntest du die Musik etwas lauter stellen? Die Stimmung hier ist super, aber wir wollen tanzen!Hey, could you make the music a bit louder? The atmosphere here is great, but we want to dance!
- Kannst du bitte die Lautstärke aufdrehen?Can you please turn up the volume?
- Ich möchte die Lautstärke aufdrehen.I want to turn up the volume.
- Wir müssen die Lautstärke aufdrehen, um den Song zu hören.We need to turn up the volume to hear the song.
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are listening to music in the living room.
- JuliaLukas, ich kann die Musik kaum hören.Lukas, I can hardly hear the music.
- LukasSoll ich die Lautstärke aufdrehen?Should I turn up the volume?
- JuliaJa, bitte, dreh die Lautstärke ein bisschen auf.Yes, please, turn up the volume a little bit.
- LukasAlles klar, jetzt ist es besser.All right, now it is better.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Lautstärke, aufdrehen, die, CC BY-SA 4.0.
