B1 · GRAMMAR

lassen: to have something done, to let, to leave

lassen is a very versatile verb that you will encounter constantly in daily life. Its most important meaning is 'to have something done': you aren't doing the task yourself, but having someone else do it for you (Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden). In addition, it has meanings like 'to allow/let', 'to leave', and 'Lass uns ...' (let's ...).

In this lesson

1. to have something done

lassen + infinitive (at the end).

Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren.

I am having my car repaired.

2. to allow / let

Allowing someone to do something.

Meine Eltern lassen mich allein reisen.

My parents let me travel alone.

3. to leave

Leaving something in a place / leaving it as it is.

Ich lasse das Handy zu Hause.

I am leaving my phone at home.

4. Lass uns ...!

Let's ...!

Lass uns ins Kino gehen!

Let's go to the cinema!

5. Conjugation

ich lasse, du lässt, er lässt (a → ä).

💡 In the Perfekt tense, when used with the 'to have something done' meaning, two infinitives appear at the end: Ich habe mein Auto reparieren lassen (not gelassen).