machen vs herstellen
German word comparison
Listen to machen
Listen to herstellen
| machen | herstellen |
|---|---|
MAH-chen verb | /hɛrˈʃtɛlən/ verb |
| to do; to make | to manufacture or produce (especially goods or materials) |
How they differ
Herstellen specifically means to produce or manufacture something, often in an industrial, technical or chemical sense, whereas machen is a broad, general-purpose verb and can feel vague for production contexts.
When to use each
When to use machen: Prefer machen for general day-to-day actions or informal talk about making things.
When to use herstellen: Prefer herstellen when referring to production, manufacturing or putting something into a usable form (e.g., factory output, technical production).
Side-by-side examples
- Die Firma macht Schokolade.
(The company makes chocolate.) - Die Firma stellt Schokolade her.
(The company manufactures/produces chocolate.)
Register & nuance: Herstellen is more formal and technical, common in industrial, business or scientific contexts; machen is neutral and more colloquial.