fehlen
missing · miss · be missing
Etwas ist nicht da, obwohl es erwartet wird.
The German verb "fehlen" means "to be missing" or "to lack". It describes the absence of something or someone.
- Root word: fehlen (no prefixes involved here)
Similar words:
- nicht da sein (to not be there)
- vermissen (to miss someone/something)
- ausbleiben (to fail to appear, to be absent)
Differences:
- Fehlen emphasizes the state of absence or missing, often objectively (e.g., "Das Buch fehlt" — The book is missing).
- Vermissen emphasizes an emotional feeling of missing someone or something.
- Ausbleiben often implies something expected did not show up or happen.
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Examples
Die Schlüssel fehlen.verb
The keys are missing.
Im Regal fehlen einige Bücher.verb
Some books are missing on the shelf.
Es fehlen noch einige Details.verb
Some details are still missing.
Es fehlen einige Bücher im Regal.verb
Some books are missing from the shelf.
Im Zimmer fehlen zwei Stühle.verb
In the room two chairs are missing.
Heute fehlen wichtige Dokumente.verb
Today important documents are missing.
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