let
Lassen is a German verb that means 'to let' or 'to allow'. It is often used to express permission, allowing someone to do something or leaving something to happen without interference.
verb
Meaning: to let
Kannst du mich bitte durchlassen?
Can you please let me through?
Meaning: to have done
Ich lasse meine Hausaufgaben machen.
I have my homework done.
Meaning: to allow
Meine Eltern lassen mir viel Freiheit.
My parents allow me a lot of freedom.
Meaning: to leave
Lass uns gehen!
Let's leave!
Meaning: to stop
Lass das sofort sein!
Stop that immediately!
A1: Ich lasse den Ball fallen.
A1: I drop the ball.
A1: Kannst du mich bitte in Ruhe lassen?
A1: Can you please leave me alone?
A1: Er lässt seine Schwester das Buch lesen.
A1: He lets his sister read the book.
B1: Gestern habe ich meinen Freund zum Flughafen gelassen.
B1: Yesterday I dropped off my friend at the airport.
B1: Sie hat sich von ihrem Job nicht unterkriegen lassen.
B1: She didn't let her job get her down.
B2: Wenn du möchtest, lasse ich dich wissen, ob ich komme oder nicht.
B2: If you want, I'll let you know if I'm coming or not.
C1: Er ließ sich von seinem Misserfolg nicht entmutigen und versuchte es erneut.
C1: He didn't let his failure discourage him and tried again.
C1: Die Regierung lässt die Bürger über die neue Gesetzesänderung abstimmen.
C1: The government allows the citizens to vote on the new law amendment.
C2: Nachdem sie ihre Arbeit erledigt hatte, ließ sie sich in den Sessel sinken.
C2: After she finished her work, she let herself sink into the armchair.
The verb lassen is commonly used in everyday German conversations. It can be used in various contexts such as giving permission, expressing tolerance, or simply describing an action where the subject allows something to happen. For example, 'Ich lasse meine Kinder alleine spielen' translates to 'I let my children play alone.'
In addition to expressing permission, lassen can also be used to describe a situation where someone allows something to happen without interference. For instance, 'Ich lasse das Fenster offen' translates to 'I am leaving the window open.' Here, lassen implies that the speaker will not interfere with the situation and will allow it to continue.
It's important to note that lassen can also be used in a negative context where it expresses refusal or unwillingness. For example, 'Ich lasse mich nicht belügen' translates to 'I won't let myself be lied to.' In this case, lassen is used to indicate that the speaker will not tolerate or allow a certain behavior.