What does auf mean?
In English, 'auf' is a dialectal equivalent of 'up', found chiefly in Northern English and Scots speech and writing. It can describe upward movement ('climbing auf the hill') or a raised position ('the lid was auf'). Outside these regions it sounds archaic or quaint, and most English speakers encounter the word instead through borrowings from German, where 'auf' is a common preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'in' (to). Fixed expressions such as 'auf Wiedersehen' (literally 'until we see again') have entered general English usage, giving the word a second life as an exotic-seeming fragment of German. For learners, the key points are simple: within English dialect, 'auf' equals 'up'; within German-derived phrases, it is best learned as part of the whole expression rather than translated word by word. The word's dual identity — homely northern dialect on one hand, continental politeness on the other — makes it a small but curious footnote in the vocabulary of English.
(Chiefly Northern English and Scots dialect) Up; raised or in an upward position.
"The sun was well auf by the time we reached the summit."
Restricted to regional speech and literary dialect; avoid in formal standard English.
(German, used in English loan phrases) On, upon, or in (to); as in 'auf Wiedersehen', literally 'until we see again'.
"He tipped his hat and murmured, 'Auf Wiedersehen.'"
Not an independent English word; confined to borrowed German set phrases.
That little word tucked inside the farewell 'auf Wiedersehen' is simply German for 'up' — and in parts of northern England it still does the job that 'up' does everywhere else.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of auf
The English dialectal 'auf' is a regional pronunciation of 'up', reflecting the same Old English root 'upp' but with the vowel development typical of northern dialects. Separately, the 'auf' familiar from phrases like 'auf Wiedersehen' comes directly from German, where it descends from Old High German 'ūf(a)', itself cognate with English 'up'. The two words are thus ultimately related, both tracing back to the Proto-Germanic adverb *upp.
How auf is actually used
As an English word, 'auf' belongs firmly to regional dialect and is rare outside Northern England, Scotland, and older literature; standard speakers would use 'up'. In international contexts, readers are far more likely to meet 'auf' as part of German loan phrases, where its meaning depends entirely on the phrase.
Easily confused with auf
'Auf' means upward or on top (like 'up'), while 'off' means away from or disconnected from something.