01
vermissen
to miss
To notice the absence of someone or something and feel sad or lonely because of it.
example
Ich vermisse meine Familie sehr, seit ich im Ausland lebe.
I miss my family very much since I have been living abroad.
vermissen
to miss
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Vermissen' (to miss) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' stays firmly attached to the verb in all conjugations and sentence forms.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine Heimatstadt nie wirklich vermisst.
He never really missed his hometown.
Accusative object
The verb 'vermissen' (to miss) is always used with an accusative object. This applies both to people and to objects that one misses.
EXAMPLE
Ich vermisse dich!
I miss you!
Context clue
The meaning depends on the object. If the object is a person, an animal, or a place, it is about the emotional feeling of missing someone or something. If it is an object such as a key or a book, it means that you have noticed its absence.
EXAMPLE
Seit mein Hund gestorben ist, vermisse ich ihn jeden Tag.
Since my dog died, I miss him every day.
Compare with
vermissen vs verlieren
to lose
'verlieren' and 'vermissen' can both have to do with something or someone not being there. You use 'verlieren' when you no longer have something because you do not know where it is. The focus is on the thing getting lost. You use 'vermissen' when you notice that something is missing, or when you are sad because a person is not there. Learners easily confuse the words because you often first lose something and then miss it. In practical terms: you lose your key, but you miss a friend or notice that the key is missing.
vermissen
Am Wochenende vermisst Sofia ihre Freunde aus der alten Stadt.
On the weekend, Sofia misses her friends from her old city.
verlieren
Adam verliert am Abend oft seinen Schlüssel, weil er ihn überall liegen lässt.
Adam often loses his key in the evening because he leaves it lying around everywhere.
In real life
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