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.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
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?
📖 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
Learn them all! 🚀
Master the 1000 most common German words with smart explanations, audio pronunciation, and spaced repetition.
Start Learning For Free →No sign-up required
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.").
More Core Verbs words
Related reading
100 Most Common German Verbs (with examples & conjugation)
Master the 100 most frequent German verbs. Learn their meanings, see them in action with example sentences, and access direct dictionary links to see full conjugation tables.
Read →GermanA1 → B1 in German: A Realistic Step-by-Step Roadmap
A realistic guide to moving from absolute beginner (A1) to intermediate (B1) in German. Learn what to study at each level, timeline estimates, and resources.
Read →