verb
to open
A1
öffnen means 'to open' (transitive) or 'to begin/open up' (intransitive). It's a regular weak verb with past participle geöffnet and uses auxiliary haben. Non-reflexive and not separable. Forms: öffnet, öffnete, habt geöffnet. In passive constructions you use werden + geöffnet. Common for doors, events, or files.
Examples
Die Bibliothek öffnete verspätet, weil der Strom ausgefallen war.
The library opened late because the power had gone out.
Sie hat das Paket geöffnet.
She opened the package.
Er öffnete die Tür.
He opened the door.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a big round 'O' (like in 'öffnen') forming the shape of a door opening.
Sounds like 'oh-fen' — think of the English word 'open'.
Notes
A basic, commonly used verb meaning 'to open'. Uses haben as auxiliary in perfect tenses (ich habe geöffnet). Often interchangeable in colloquial speech with aufmachen. Passive forms are formed with werden (z. B. 'Das Fenster wird geöffnet'). Not reflexive.