English Translation
Did you lock the door?
What’s the difference between “abschließen” and “verschließen”? Which one should be predominantly used when referring to locking doors?
Oh, and there’s “zuschließen” as well. <:D
Did you lock the door?
What’s the difference between “abschließen” and “verschließen”? Which one should be predominantly used when referring to locking doors?
Oh, and there’s “zuschließen” as well. <:D
Did you lock the door?
Pretty sure they all have the same meaning. AbschlieBen is an A2 level word, verschlieBen is C1, and zuschlieBen is C2 (from my German dictionary)
abschließen, verschließen, and zuschließen all describe closing/shutting/locking something, but there are slight differences.
“abschließen” and “zuschließen” can both describe closing and locking something, like a door. But “abschließen” can also mean to bring something to an end: “Er schloss sein Studium ab” (he completed his studies).
“verschließen” is more like “to seal shut”. For example, you could use it to describe putting something in an envelope: “Ich verschließe den Umschlag” (I’m sealing the envelope). You can use this figuratively with people: “Er verschließt sich vor der Wahrheit” (he’s closing himself off from the truth). If you use “verschließen” to describe closing a door, then it may or may not also involve locking the door. It might just mean that you closed it. The implied “locking” of something is a bit weaker here, compared to “abschließen”.
Other related words you may find useful: verriegeln, versiegeln.
Unrelated nitpick: if your keyboard can’t make the ß character, then “ss” is preferable to “B” ![]()