lass es
The German phrase for 'leave it' is lass es.
This phrase is used as a command to tell someone to stop doing something or to stop touching something.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the imperative form of lassen (to let/leave) and the pronoun es (it), literally meaning 'let it'.
Which one should you use?
While lass es is used for commands to stop an action or leave an object, the idiomatic phrase Lass es sein is a common way to say 'stop it' or 'let it be'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes based on who you are addressing. Use the singular imperative lass es when speaking to one person informally, and the plural imperative lasst es when speaking to two or more people informally. For formal situations, use the polite imperative lassen Sie es when speaking to one or more people.
Did you know?
- The word lass in lass es is a linguistic relative of the English word 'late'.
- The word lassen can also mean to 'leave' in the sense of forgetting an object. If you lassen your keys at home, you did not intentionally leave them, but simply forgot them.
- While lass es is a command, adding doch to create lass es doch can turn the command into a softer, more pleading suggestion.
Examples in context
- Lass es gut sein!Leave it alone.This sentence shows how to use lass es to say 'leave it alone'.Tatoeba #444518 by Espi, translation #3826787 by CK
- Lass es uns dabei belassen.Let's just leave it at that.This sentence shows a way to use lass es to suggest leaving a matter at a certain point.Tatoeba #4901927 by Zaghawa, translation #2007440 by CK
- Lass es genau da, wo es ist!Leave it right where it is.This sentence shows how to use lass es to command someone to leave an object exactly where it is.Tatoeba #3383514 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3378684 by CK
- Lassen Sie es bittePlease leave it
- Hören Sie bitte auf damitPlease stop doing that.
- Lass das seinLeave it
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas is trying to fix a broken vase, but Hannah thinks he is making it worse.
- HannahLukas, lass es jetzt bitte einfach!Lukas, please just leave it now!
- LukasIch kann es fast reparieren.I can almost fix it.
- HannahDu machst es nur noch schlimmer.You're only making it worse.
- LukasNa gut, ich lass es.Alright, I'll leave it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, lass, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
