The Many Meanings of the German Verb Lassen

Principal Parts: lassen, ließ, gelassen The German verb lassen is a very useful irregular (strong) verb with the basic meaning of to allow or to let. But it has many other meanings and is used often in everyday German. Common Verb Combinations The verb lassen is also found in several common verbal phrases. Under the new spelling rules, they are written as two words, although the old combined spelling is still accepted. A few examples: fallen lassen to drop, fahren lassen to abandon/give up (hope), stehen lassen to leave (standing). Below we examine this extremely versatile verb, which can have over a dozen different meanings in English (and German), depending on the context. However, one can reduce these many meanings of lassen into seven basic categories: to allow/letto get/have doneto cause/maketo leave (behind)a suggestion (Lets do something.)to cease/quit/stop (doing something)to be possible (reflexive, sich) The various specific meanings listed below will generally fall into one of these seven main categories. Each meaning has one or more German synonyms listed along with the English meaning. Lassen (erlauben, zulassen) English Meaning: to allow, letExamples: Sie là ¤sst ihren Hund auf dem Bett schlafen. (She lets her dog sleep on the bed.) Das lasse ich mit mir nicht machen. (I wont stand for / put up with that. Lit., I wont allow that with me.) Lassen (veranlassen, helping verb, modal verb) English Meaning: to get/have doneExamples: Sie lassen sich scheiden. (Theyre getting a divorce.) Er hat sich die Haare schneiden lassen. (He got a haircut.) Lassen Sie Herrn Schmidt hereinkommen. (Please send Mr. Schmidt in.) Lassen (vorschlagen) English Meaning: to let (let me, lets)Examples: Lass uns gehen. (Lets go.) Lass ihn das machen. (Have / Let him do that.) Lassen (aufhà ¶ren, unterlassen) English Meaning: to stop, refrain from (doing something)Examples: Lassen Sie das! (Stop doing that! Leave that alone!) Er konnte es einfach nicht lassen. (He just couldnt resist it.) Sie kann das Rauchen nicht lassen. (She cant quit / give up smoking.) Lassen (stehen lassen, zurà ¼cklassen) English Meaning: to leave (sth somewhere)Examples: Bitte lass den Koffer stehen. (Please leave the suitcase [standing] where it is.) Lassen Sie sie nicht draußen warten. (Dont leave them waiting outside.) Lassen (à ¼briglassen) English Meaning: to leave (behind, over)Example: Die Diebe haben ihnen nichts gelassen. (The thieves cleaned them out / left them with nothing.) Lassen (nicht stà ¶ren) English Meaning: to leave alone, leave in peaceExample: Lass mich in Ruhe! (Leave me alone!) Lassen (bewegen) English Meaning: to put, place, run (water)Examples: Hast du ihm Wasser in die Wanne gelassen? (Did you run his bath water?) Wir lassen das Boot zu Wasser. (Were putting out the boat/putting the boat into the water.) Lassen (zugestehen) English Meaning: to grant, admitExample: Das muss ich dir lassen. (Ill have to grant you that.) Lassen (verlieren) English Meaning: to loseExample: Er hat sein Leben dafà ¼r gelassen. (He laid down his life for that.) Lassen (mà ¶glich sein, reflexive) English Meaning: to be possibleExamples: Hier là ¤sst sich gut leben. (One can live well here.) Das Fenster là ¤sst sich nicht à ¶ffnen. (The window wont open. The window cant be opened.) Das là ¤sst sich nicht leicht beweisen. (That wont be easy to prove.) Lassen (verursachen) English Meaning: to cause, make (sb do sth)Example: Die Explosion ließ ihn hochfahren. (The explosion made him jump.) Idioms and Expressions With Lassen blau anlaufen lassento temper (metal)sich blicken lassento show ones faceeinen lassento cut one, let one rip (vulgar)die Kirche im Dorf lassento not get carried away, not over-do it (leave the church in the village)jdn im Stich lassento leave sb holding the bag, leave sb in the lurchkeine grauen Haare darà ¼ber wachsen lassento not lose any sleep over sthkein gutes Haar an jdm/etw lassento pick sb/sth apart / to pieces Compound Verbs Based on Lassen ablassen (sep.) to drain, empty, let outanlassen (sep.) to start (motor), leave on (clothes)auslassen (sep.) to omit, leave out; vent, let outbelassen (insep.) to leave (in place), leave at that (dabei)entlassen (insep.) to discharge, dismiss, lay offà ¼berlassen (insep.) to hand over, turn over tounterlassen (insep.) to omit, not do, refrain from doing​verlassen (insep.) to abandon, leave behindzerlassen (insep.) to melt, dissolve (cooking)zulassen (insep.) to grant, permit