'aufklarung' originates from German, specifically the verb 'aufklären' and the noun-forming suffix '-ung', where the prefix 'auf-' meant 'up/on' and 'klar' meant 'clear'.

'aufklären' comes from Middle High German forms (e.g. 'ufklæren') and developed into the Modern German noun 'Aufklärung', which in the 18th century came to be used for the intellectual movement now called the Enlightenment.

Initially it meant 'the act of making clear' or 'clarification', but over time it evolved into a prominent usage referring to the historical Enlightenment movement and additionally came to be used for 'reconnaissance' in military contexts.