fehlen
Meaning and Usage
"Fehlen" in German means "to be missing" or "to be absent". It is also used to express "to lack" or "to be in need of" something or someone.
Linguistic Analysis
The word "fehlen" is a verb and does not contain any prefixes or suffixes. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old High German word "filu," which means "much" or "many."
Comparisons between German and English
The German word "fehlen" can be compared to the English word "to miss" when used in the context of someone or something being absent. However, "fehlen" also encompasses the meaning of lacking or being in need of something, which distinguishes it from the English word.
Cultural Context
In German culture, "fehlen" is commonly used to express the absence of someone or something, both in a physical and emotional sense. For example, it can be used to express missing a person who is not present or the lack of a certain quality or item.
Example Sentences
- Mein Bruder fehlt mir sehr. (I miss my brother a lot.)
- Es fehlt noch Salz in der Suppe. (The soup still lacks salt.)
Memory Tips
To remember the meaning of "fehlen," you can associate it with the feeling of something missing or lacking. Imagine a situation where someone or something is absent, and you feel their absence, linking the feeling to the word "fehlen."
Additional Vocabulary
- vermissen (to miss)
- die Abwesenheit (the absence)
- benötigen (to need)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
N/A
Conjugation (for verbs)
- Ich fehle (I am missing)
- Du fehlst (You are missing)
- Er/sie/es fehlt (He/she/it is missing)
- Wir fehlen (We are missing)
- Ihr fehlt (You are missing)
- Sie fehlen (They are missing)