That's really a huge question. I will send you 2 links: https://yourdailygerman.com/auf-meaning-explained/ https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/auf_Praeposition The most common translation would be 'on', auf dem Tisch. Regarding the prefix there is the association with an upward movement, such as 'aufstehen', 'aufstellen' or opening something such as in 'aufmachen'.

This question is too complicated to answer easily. Often, auf would be used for "on" or "in" Auf den tisch auf Englisch But it has many other uses. Then you have all the verbs with 'auf" ,e.g. aufstehen, where "auf" = up For more details, you can check this out: https://www.wordreference.com/deen/auf