Translation of German word "fehlen" to English
fehlen
/ˈfeːlən/
Meaning
VerbTo be without, not to have, to need, to require.
How to use
The weak verb fehlen ('to lack / be missing / be absent') conjugates regularly: ich fehle, du fehlst, er fehlt, hat gefehlt. It is an inherent dative verb when expressing 'to miss someone' (Du fehlst mir — I miss you; literally 'you are lacking to me'). When expressing 'to lack something', it requires the preposition an + dative case (Es fehlt uns an Geld — We lack money; using impersonal es).
🇬🇧 English
to lack
Example
Solange er so viel Geld hat, wird es ihm nie an Gesellschaft mangeln.
As long as he has so much money, he will never lack company.
Alle bewunderten das Bemerkenswerte, was dem Museum fehlte.
Everyone admired the remarkable thing that was missing from the museum.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- Du fehlst mir.— I miss you. / I lack you (literally).
- es fehlt an— to lack (requires impersonal 'es' + 'an' + dative)
- ohne zu fehlen— without fail / without being absent
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "fehlen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/habe gefehlt
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #273 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "fehlen"?▼
The German word "fehlen" is defined as: "To be without, not to have, to need, to require."
What does the German word "fehlen" mean?▼
The German word "fehlen" means "to lack" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "fehlen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "fehlen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "fehlen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Solange er so viel Geld hat, wird es ihm nie an Gesellschaft mangeln." (which translates as "As long as he has so much money, he will never lack company.").
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