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
vermissen
to miss
To notice that an object is no longer where it should be; to realize that something is lost.
EXAMPLE
Ich vermisse meinen Schlüssel, hast du ihn vielleicht gesehen?
I'm missing my key—have you maybe seen it?
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 describes no longer having an object because you misplaced it or no longer know where it is. Vermissen, by contrast, states that the object is missing from its expected place. When the loss is the focus, Verlieren fits; when the current absence is the focus, Vermissen is appropriate.
vermissen
Ich vermisse meinen Schlüssel seit dem Morgen und suche ihn überall.
I have been missing my key since this morning and am looking for it everywhere.
verlieren
Ich habe meinen Schlüssel auf dem Weg zur Arbeit verloren.
I lost my key on the way to work.
In real life
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