adverb
up, upstairs
B1
Rauf is an informal adverb meaning 'up' or 'upstairs', used in spoken German as a contraction of 'herauf'/'hinauf'. It indicates movement toward a higher place or entering an upper floor, often combined with verbs (gehen, kommen). Not a verb; no auxiliary or reflexive use.
Examples
Komm rauf!
Come up!
Wir gehen die Treppe rauf.
We're going upstairs.
Obwohl die Treppe gefährlich aussah, stieg der Techniker rauf, damit er die Lampe reparieren konnte.
Although the staircase looked dangerous, the technician climbed up so that he could repair the lamp.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine an arrow pointing upward with the word 'rauf' on it — that visual links the adverb to upward movement.
Sounds a bit like the English word 'rough' or 'roof' — picture going up to the roof to remember 'rauf' = up/upstairs.
Notes
Rauf is a colloquial/informal contraction of 'hinauf' or 'nach oben' used in spoken German. It often appears in imperative and colloquial directions.