dürfen
German
Etymology
From Middle High German dürfen, durfen, from Old High German durfan, from Proto-Germanic *þurbaną, cognate with Ancient Greek τέρπω (térpō, “I delight, please”), English tharf.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "most of Germany" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈdʏrfən/, [ˈdʏʁf(ə)n], [ˈdʏɐ̯f(ə)n]
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "parts of southern Germany; Austria, Switzerland" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈdʏrfən/, [ˈd̥ʏrfən], [ˈd̥ʏrfɛn]
audio (Austria): (file) Audio: (file)
Verb
- (auxiliary, infinitive replaces past participle) To be allowed (to do something); to be permitted (to do something); may.
- 1930, “act 2, scene 2”, in Bertolt Brecht (lyrics), Kurt Weil (music), Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny:
- Erstens, vergesst nicht, kommt das Fressen, / zweitens kommt der Liebesakt, / drittens das Boxen nicht vergessen, / viertens Saufen, laut Kontrakt. / Vor allem aber achtet scharf, dass man hier alles dürfen darf.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- Darf ich gehen? ― May I go?
- Ich habe gehen dürfen. ― I was allowed to go.
- (intransitive or transitive, past participle as above) To be allowed or permitted to do something implied or previously stated; may.
- Ja, du darfst. ― Yes, you may.
- Ich habe es gedurft. ― I was allowed [to do] it.
- (subjunctive present, modal auxiliary verb) Expresses that something is estimated or probable.
- 1934, Walther Kabel (as Max Schraut), Der Bluffer, Verlag moderner Lektüre, page 54:
- Die Wohnungen dürften ein wenig hellhörig sein.
- The walls of the apartments are probably a bit thin.
- (colloquial) to must, to have to
- Und ich darf dann wieder hinter euch aufräumen.
- And I can clean up after you once again then.
Conjugation
Descendants
- → Ido: darfar
See also
Further reading
- “dürfen” in Duden online
Categories:
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old High German
- German terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- German terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- German 2-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio links
- German auxiliary verbs
- German terms with quotations
- German terms with usage examples
- German intransitive verbs
- German transitive verbs
- German colloquialisms
- German modal verbs