Schulden machen

You use this phrase just like any other verb-object pair. You can say Ich mache Schulden or Er hat Schulden gemacht. It works for small things, like borrowing five euros. It also works for huge things, like a national budget deficit. Just remember that Schulden is almost always plural. You rarely 'make a debt' in the singular in German.

Use it when talking about credit cards or bank loans. It is perfect for discussing a friend who spends too much. You will hear it in news reports about the economy. It is also common when planning a big life event. Buying a house usually involves Schulden machen. Even texting a friend about a bar tab fits here. It is a very versatile, everyday expression.

Do not use this for emotional favors. If a friend helps you move, you don't 'make debts.' In that case, use Ich stehe in deiner Schuld. That implies a moral obligation, not a financial one. Also, avoid it if you want to sound extremely academic. In high-level economics, you might use Verbindlichkeiten eingehen. But for 99% of life, Schulden machen is your best friend.

This is where it gets fascinating. In German, the word Schuld means both 'debt' and 'guilt.' This tells you a lot about the culture. Many Germans view debt as a moral failing, not just a financial tool. This is why credit cards were slow to catch up here. People prefer to pay with cash they actually have. When you say someone is Schulden machen, there is often a tiny hint of caution in the air.

You might hear sich verschulden. This is a bit more formal and reflexive. There is also in der Kreide stehen. That is a fun, old-fashioned way to say you owe money. It comes from writing debts in chalk on a tavern wall. If the debt is growing fast, you say someone is Schulden anhäufen. That means they are piling them up like a mountain of laundry.