German Grammar A–Z
Look up German grammar topics A–Z, organized by category and level — with clear explanations and examples.
Meanings of the Verb lassen with Different Prefixes
As you know, German verbs are often combined with prefixes (Präfix). Each combination produces a new meaning, and understanding the meanings and usage is a challenge for learners of German. This is a series of articles on how to distinguish the meanings of verbs that share the same root but have different prefixes. In this article, the meanings of the verb lassen when combined with prefixes (Präfix) are explained.
Let's get started!
The verb lassen basically means to allow (to let someone do something / let something happen) or to leave (leave behind)
Example: - Wo hast du deinen Schirm gelassen? (Where did you leave your umbrella?)
- Er lässt seine Kinder viel draußen spielen. (He often lets his children play outside)
- Er kann von ihr nicht lassen. (He can't give her up)
- Lass mich! (Leave me alone!)
In addition, when combined with other prefixes, the verb lassen takes on a variety of meanings:
prefix (Präfix) + lassen | Meaning | Example |
ab-lassen | to release, to let out to stop, to leave off | Öffnen Sie kurz den Ofen, um Dampf abzulassen und die Temperatur auf 180 Grad zu senken. (Open the oven briefly to let out steam and lower the temperature to 180 degrees) Lisa ist am Wochenende ihrem Idol begegnet und konnte ihre Augen nicht mehr von ihm ablassen. (Lisa met her idol at the weekend and couldn't take her eyes off him) |
an-lassen | to keep something running to start up | Darf ich meine Musik anlassen, wenn du lernst? (Can I keep my music on while you're studying?) Ich kann mein Auto nicht anlassen! Ich glaube, die Batterie ist leer. (I can't start my car! I think the battery is dead) |
be-lassen | to leave as it is, not to change to keep in place | Wir wollen es dabei belassen. (We want to leave it at that) Wenn Sie ein paar verwelkte Blüten an den Pflanzen belassen, können Sie daraus Samen gewinnen. (If you leave a few wilted flowers on the plants, you can get seeds from them) |
ein-lassen | to accept, to agree to to fill, to let in (liquids) to get involved, to associate with | Er wollte sich leider nicht auf mein Angebot einlassen. (He unfortunately did not accept my offer) Wasser in ein Becken einlassen (to let water into a basin) Lass dich bloß nicht mit diesen Leuten ein. Das sind Betrüger! (Don't get involved/associate with these people. They are swindlers!) |
ent-lassen | to dismiss, to fire to release, to set free, to discharge | Er entlässt ihn mit einer Handbewegung. (He dismisses him with a wave of the hand) Am kommenden Montag kann er aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen. (Next Monday he can be discharged from the hospital) Zwei Jahre später wird sie aus dem Gefängnis entlassen. (Two years later she will be released from prison) |
er-lassen | to announce, to issue, to promulgate to exempt from responsibility (from a punishment, an obligation...) | Auf Antrag der Staatanwaltschaft wurde am Mittwochnachmittag ein Haftbefehl gegen A erlassen. (At the request of the public prosecutor, an arrest warrant against A was issued on Wednesday afternoon) Der Richter hat das Urteil erlassen und den Angeklagten freigesprochen. (The judge waived the sentence and acquitted the defendant) |
nach-lassen | to ease off, to weaken to stop, to cease to lose | Der Regen lässt allmählich nach. (The rain is gradually easing off.) Der Lärm hat endlich nachgelassen. (The noise has finally stopped) Er lässt seine Erinnerungen an seine Kindheit nicht nach. (He does not lose his memories of his childhood) |
offen-lassen | to leave open, to leave unfinished | Sie hat die Frage unbeantwortet offengelassen. (She left the question unanswered) |
ran-lassen | (technical) to let electric current through to allow someone access to something to let something/someone affect one's emotions | Du musst den Strom wieder ranlassen. (You have to let the current flow again) An seinen Oldtimer lässt er niemanden mehr ran. (He no longer lets anyone touch his vintage car) Er lässt sich von seiner Wut ran. (He lets his anger affect him) |
ver-lassen | to move away to another place to leave, to separate from (break up) | Die drei Studenten verließen in ihrem Segelboot den Hafen in Las Palmas. (The three students left the port of Las Palmas in their sailboat) Ryu Jun Yeol hat Han Soo Hee verlassen. (Ryu Jun Yeol left Han Soo Hee) |
zer-lassen | to melt | Zerlassen Sie 50g Butter und bestreichen Sie Ihre Lachsfilet damit. (Melt 50g of butter and brush your salmon fillet with it) |
zu-lassen | to tolerate, to accept, to allow | Man kann nicht zulassen, dass die Infektionszahlen weiter steigen. (We cannot allow the number of infections to keep rising) In der EU wurden bereits vier Impfstoffe von der EMA zugelassen. (In the EU, four vaccines have already been approved by the EMA) |
