Translation of German word "erlauben" to English
erlauben
/ˈɛʁlaʊ̯bn̩/
Meaning
VerbTo let one have as a suitable share of something.
How to use
The weak verb erlauben ('to allow / permit') has the non-separable prefix er- and conjugates regularly: ich erlaube, du erlaube, er erlaubt, hat erlaubt. Grammatically, the person permitted is in the dative case and the allowed action is in the accusative case (Ich erlaube dir das — I allow you this) or introduced via an infinitive + zu clause (Ich erlaube dir, hier zu spielen).
🇬🇧 English
to allow
Example
Meine Eltern erlauben mir, spät zu gehen.
My parents allow me to go out late.
Der Lehrer erlaubt uns, das Projekt zu machen.
The teacher allows us to do the project.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- Zutritt erlauben— to allow entry / access (requires dative for person)
- Darf ich mir erlauben?— May I take the liberty? (formal idiom)
- die Eltern erlauben— parents allow (related noun collocation)
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "erlauben"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/erlaubt
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #241 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "erlauben"?▼
The German word "erlauben" is defined as: "To let one have as a suitable share of something."
What does the German word "erlauben" mean?▼
The German word "erlauben" means "to allow" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "erlauben"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "erlauben" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "erlauben"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Man erlaubt mir, ins Haus zu gehen." (which translates as "My parents allow me to go out late.").
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