verb
to wash up (dishes), to do the dishes
B1
abwaschen: separable, strong (irregular) verb meaning 'to wash up' or 'do the dishes'. Auxiliary: haben; past participle: abgewaschen. Stem vowel changes in du/er forms (a → ä: du wäschst ab, er wäscht ab) and preterite stem wusch-. Non-reflexive; typically transitive: das Geschirr abwaschen.
Examples
Sie hat das Geschirr abgewaschen.
She washed the dishes.
Ich wasche das Geschirr ab.
I'm washing the dishes.
Ich wasche das Geschirr nach dem Essen ab.
I wash the dishes after dinner.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine scrubbing a plate while saying 'ab-wash' — the 'ab' peels grime off the plate
Think 'ab' + 'wash' = wash off; sounds like 'ab-wash-en' = wash off/dishes
Notes
Abwaschen is a separable verb (present: ich wasche ab). It is commonly used transitively for dishes or surfaces. The past participle is 'abgewaschen' and the verb normally forms perfect tenses with haben. In colloquial speech you may also hear reflexive uses (sich abwaschen) meaning to wash oneself or to wash something off one's skin.