Schluss machen
to break up
Intermediate Phrase
🔊
Pronunciation
/ʃlʊs ˈmaxn̩/
💡
Cultural Note
Schluss machen (literally 'to make an end') is direct and final. Germans generally believe in breaking up face-to-face and clearly. Ending a relationship by text or ghosting is considered very poor form. The directness that defines German dating also applies to its endings.
📝 Example Sentences
Sie hat mit ihm Schluss gemacht.
She broke up with him.
Ich will Schluss machen, aber ich weiß nicht wie.
I want to break up, but I don't know how.
Wir haben nach zwei Jahren Schluss gemacht.
We broke up after two years.