missing
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missing
Describes a person or thing whose whereabouts are unknown and who or which is considered lost or dead, often after a disaster, a war, or a long absence. It is assumed that the search has been unsuccessful.
Der Bergsteiger gilt seit dem Lawinenunglück als verschollen.
The mountaineer has been considered missing since the avalanche accident.
The word 'verschollen' (missing, presumed lost) is the past participle of the outdated verb 'verschallen', which means 'verhallen' (to fade away) or 'verklingen' (to die away). The idea is that a person or thing has disappeared like a sound that can no longer be heard.
Viele Kunstwerke aus dieser Epoche sind verschollen.
Many works of art from this era are missing.
'Verschollen' (missing) is almost always used predicatively, that is, in connection with verbs like 'sein' (to be), 'bleiben' (to remain), or 'gelten als' (to be considered). Using it directly before a noun (attributively) is rare.
Das Schiff ist seit dem Sturm verschollen.
The ship has been missing since the storm.
This word is mostly used in serious contexts such as disasters, wars, or for people and objects that have been missing for a long time. It has an official and often dramatic tone that occurs in news reports or written reports.
Nach dem Erdbeben werden noch immer viele Menschen als verschollen gemeldet.
After the earthquake, many people are still being reported missing.
lost
Both words can express that someone cannot be found. „Verschollen“, however, usually refers to a fate that has remained unclear for a long time, with the person considered lost or dead; „verloren“ only says that the person can no longer be found. „Verschollen“ is therefore the appropriate word for this special missing-person status.
Nach dem Unwetter galt der Reisende seit Monaten als verschollen.
After the storm, the traveler had been considered missing for months.
Nach dem Unwetter war die Spur des Reisenden verloren.
After the storm, the traveler's trail was lost.
