How to use verbs like unhunn, ugoen, umaachen …

IN Level A2, Verbs

Learn in this lesson to make sentences with the 4 separable verbs with the prefixe un: unhunn, ugoen, umaachen & unhuelen

In this lesson you will learn in depth what a Luxembourgish separable verb is. I recommend to first read that lesson and then to come back to this lesson.

We native speakers use a LOT of verbs with separable prefixe. If you speak with native speakers, you need to at least understand these verbs, or I can guarantee, you’ll miss things in the conversation.

Here are 4 verbs with un that will help you sound more like a native speaker. Note that the n-rule applies as well for this kind of verbs: the prefixe is un but it looses its n before verbs like goen or maachen!

Unhunn

Here we have the verb hunn which you know of course. But if you add the prefixe un the meaning of the verb hunn changes its meaning. Let’s see if you can guess the meaning of unhunn!

Read these sentences*

Kuck emol, wat huet hien eng flott Krawatte un!
Ech hunn am Summer ëmmer Sandalen un.
Du hues eng schéi Ketten un.

Did you get the meaning of unhunn? Here it means to wear (a clothing, an accessory)

*Get the translation of the sentences by downloading the PDF of this lesson.

Unhunn also means to have (a device) switched on.

Beispiller (Examples)

Meng Mamm huet de ganzen Dag d’Tëlee un. – My mum has the tv switched on the whole day.
Ech loossen mäi Computer ëmmer op der Aarbecht un. – I always have my computer switched on at work.

Ugoen

Here we have the verb goen which means to go, to walk or to function. But the prefixe un changes the meaning of the verb goen.

Read this dialogue*:

Tom: Gees du den Owend mat an de Kino?
Sandra: Vläicht. Um wéi vill Auer geet de Film dann un?
Tom: Majo, de Film geet um 20h00 un.
Sandra: Dat ass ze fréi. Ech hunn en Iessen mat Aarbechtskolleegen. Dat geet um 18h30 un.

Did you get the meaning of ugoen? In this conversation, the verb ugoen is a synonym for ufänken which means to start.

*Get the translation of the dialogue by downloading the PDF of this lesson.

In the present tense and in simple phrases, separable prefixes are separated from the verb and placed at the end of the sentence bracket. However, when used in the infinitive, with a modal verb, separable prefix verbs are not divided.

Beispiller (Examples)

Ech wëll net, datt d’Schoul ugeet. – I don’t want the school to start.
Wéini soll de Lëtzebuergeschcours dann ugoen? – When should the Luxembourgish course begin?

Another meaning

Haut de Moien ass mäin Auto net ugaang! – I could not switch on my car this morning
Mäi Computer ass op der Aarbecht net ugaang! – I could not switch on my computer at work.

In these examples ugoen means to put on, to switch on.

Umaachen

Here we have the verb maachen which you know of course.

Ech maachen zweemol d’Woch Sport. – I do twice a week sports.

By adding the prefixe un it means to put on, to switch on (the light, a machine, the computer, the radio, the car etc …).

Beispiller (Examples)

Kanns du d’Luucht umaachen, wgl? – Can you (informal) switch on the light, please?
Hues du d’Kaffismaschinn ugemaach? – Have you switched on the coffee machine?

Unhuelen

Here we have the verb huelen which means to take or to use or to choose.

Beispiller (Examples)

Ech huelen all Dag eng Dusch um 7h00 Auer.
Mäi(n) Mann hëlt de(n) Bus fir schaffen ze goen.

By adding the prefixe un it means to accept or assume.

Ech huelen un, datt d’Noperen muer zeréckkommen! – I assume that the neighbours are coming back tomorrow.
Hien hëlt alles un, wat seng Fra him seet. – He accepts everything his wife is telling him.