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fehlen

be missing

verb FAY-len Less Common
Grammar & Structure

Also means

be absent

Usage Note

fehlen takes a dative person for what someone misses: du fehlst mir means 'I miss you' (literally 'you are lacking to me'). It also covers being absent from school or work, and a missing object that 'is lacking'.

Examples

"Mir fehlt das nötige Geld."

Natural Translation

I lack the necessary money.

Literal Translation

To-me lacks the necessary money.

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