Translation of German word "müssen" to English
müssen
/ˈmʏsn̩/
Meaning
VerbMust; need to; to be urged to; to be required to; indicates obligation.
How to use
müssen ('must, to have to') is a modal verb of necessity or obligation (Ich muss arbeiten). Note: the negation nicht müssen means 'not have to', not 'must not' (that is nicht dürfen). Irregular: ich muss, du musst, er muss.
🇬🇧 English
to have to
Example
Ich muss dieses Hemd einfach haben.
I just have to have this shirt.
Weise Männer sprechen, weil sie etwas zu sagen haben; Dummköpfe, weil sie etwas sagen müssen.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- arbeiten müssen— to have to work
- es muss sein— it has to be
- mal müssen— to need the toilet (colloquial)
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📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "müssen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich habe gemusst
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #155 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "müssen"?▼
The German word "müssen" is defined as: "Must; need to; to be urged to; to be required to; indicates obligation."
What does the German word "müssen" mean?▼
The German word "müssen" means "to have to" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "müssen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "müssen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "müssen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Ich muss dieses Hemd einfach haben." (which translates as "I just have to have this shirt.").
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