lassen
to let
To allow or permit someone to do something.
EXAMPLE
Meine Eltern lassen mich am Wochenende mit Freunden ausgehen.
My parents let me go out with friends on the weekend.
lassen
to let / to have
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Meanings
lassen
to have done
To arrange for something to be done by another person. You do not do it yourself.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss meine Haare schneiden lassen.
I have to have my hair cut.
lassen
to leave
To leave something behind in a place or not take it with you.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe meinen Regenschirm im Büro gelassen.
I left my umbrella at the office.
lassen
to stop
To stop doing something; to refrain from an action. Often used as a command.
EXAMPLE
Lass das, du machst alles kaputt!
Stop that, you're breaking everything!
sich lassen
to be possible
In combination with an infinitive, it expresses possibility, similar to a passive construction with 'können' (can).
EXAMPLE
Die Tür lässt sich nicht öffnen.
The door cannot be opened.
lassen
to leave
To leave something in a particular state or not change it.
EXAMPLE
Lass das Fenster bitte offen, es ist so warm hier drin.
Please leave the window open; it is so warm in here.
jemanden in Ruhe lassen
to leave someone alone
A fixed expression meaning not to disturb or bother someone.
EXAMPLE
Bitte lass mich in Ruhe, ich muss mich konzentrieren.
Please leave me alone; I need to concentrate.
Usage tips
Sentence structure with infinitive
In many of its meanings, 'lassen' is used like a modal verb and appears with a second verb in the infinitive. This second verb always comes at the end of the sentence or clause.
EXAMPLE
Ich lasse mein Fahrrad in der Werkstatt reparieren.
I am having my bicycle repaired at the workshop.
Perfect tense with two infinitives
When 'lassen' is used with a second verb in the perfect tense, a special form is created: 'haben' + infinitive + infinitive of 'lassen'. This construction is called 'Ersatzinfinitiv' (substitute infinitive) or 'doppelter Infinitiv' (double infinitive).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat mich eine Stunde warten lassen.
She made me wait for an hour.
Context clue
The context determines whether 'lassen' means 'erlauben' (to allow) or 'veranlassen' (to arrange / to have something done). If it is about a person's wish, it often means 'to allow.' If it is about a paid service, it means 'to arrange / to have something done.'
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer lässt die Schüler im Unterricht diskutieren.
The teacher lets the students discuss in class.
Without a second infinitive
In the meaning 'zurücklassen' (to leave behind) or 'nicht mitnehmen' (not to take along), 'lassen' stands alone, without a second verb in the infinitive. The perfect tense is formed regularly here with 'hat gelassen'.
EXAMPLE
Oh nein, ich habe mein Handy im Auto gelassen!
Oh no, I left my phone in the car!
Passive alternative
The construction 'sich lassen' + infinitive is a common alternative to the passive with 'können' (can). It expresses that something is possible or can be done.
EXAMPLE
Der Fleck lässt sich nicht entfernen.
The stain cannot be removed.
Typical services
The meaning 'veranlassen' (to arrange / to have something done) is very often used for services that you do not perform yourself. Typical examples are 'sich die Haare schneiden lassen' (to have one's hair cut) or 'das Auto waschen lassen' (to have the car washed).
EXAMPLE
Alle zwei Jahre lasse ich meine Augen vom Arzt kontrollieren.
Every two years I have my eyes checked by the doctor.
As a command
In the imperative, 'Lass das!' (Stop that!) or 'Lass das sein!' (Stop doing that!) is used as a clear command to stop a particular action immediately.
EXAMPLE
Lass das, der Hund hat Angst vor dir!
Stop that, the dog is afraid of you!
Compare with
lassen vs überlassen
to leave / to entrust
Lassen can express leaving something unchanged in a particular state, such as leaving an exit open. Überlassen occurs in the fixed expression etwas dem Zufall überlassen and means deliberately not planning or controlling something. In this expression, Zufall takes the dative.
lassen
Wir lassen den Ausgang des Abends offen und machen keinen festen Plan.
We’re leaving the outcome of the evening open and aren’t making a firm plan.
überlassen
Wir überlassen den Ausgang des Abends dem Zufall und machen keinen festen Plan.
We’re leaving the outcome of the evening to chance and aren’t making a firm plan.
In real life
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