Translation of German word "dürfen" to English
dürfen
/dyːɐ̯fn̩/
How to use
The modal verb dürfen ('to be allowed to / may') expresses permission, prohibition (in negative: man darf nicht — one must not), or polite request (Darf ich? — May I?). Note: the source metadata mistakenly lists this as 'None' for part of speech, but it is a verb. Conjugation: ich darf, du darfst, er darf, wir dürfen.
🇬🇧 English
to be allowed to
Example
Hier dürfen die Kinder ungestört auf der Straße spielen.
Here, children are allowed to play on the street undisturbed.
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Common phrases
- Darf ich?— May I? / Can I?
- Man darf hier nicht parken.— One must not park here / parking is not allowed.
- Darf ich reinkommen?— May I come in?
More Core Verbs words
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "dürfen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich habe gedurft
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #158 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "dürfen"?▼
The German word "dürfen" is defined as: "To be allowed to, may, have permission."
What does the German word "dürfen" mean?▼
The German word "dürfen" means "to be allowed to" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "dürfen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "dürfen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "dürfen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Hier dürfen die Kinder ungestört auf der Straße spielen." (which translates as "Here, children are allowed to play on the street undisturbed.").
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