Also means
may
Usage Note
dürfen is the modal of permission; its negative nicht dürfen means 'must not / may not', a false friend with English 'don't have to'. The polite subjunctive dürfte softens a statement into 'might / probably', as in das dürfte stimmen.
Examples
"Hier darf man nicht rauchen."
Natural Translation
You're not allowed to smoke here.
Literal Translation
Here may one not smoke.
Related Words
Explore German by topic
