müssen

verb [ˈmʏsn̩]

Translation

must, have to, have to leave, must go, need to go to the bathroom, must be

Some translations were made by AI and may be inaccurate.

Meanings

1. must, have to — be inevitably forced to do or suffer something

   Jeder Mensch muss sterben.
   Every human must die.

2. have to leave, must go — be necessary to reach this place

   Ich muss weg.
   I have to go.

3. colloq. need to go to the bathroom — feel the urge to use the toilet

   Mami, ich muss mal!
   Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom!

4. must be — express a conjecture or conclusion

   Da alle Nachbarn im Urlaub sind, müssen die matschigen Fußabdrücke vom Briefträger kommen.
   Since all the neighbors are on vacation, the muddy footprints must have come from the mailman.

5. require approval, need consent — stand in the way of a plan and have the right to permit or prevent it; be a prerequisite for something else

   Die zweite Kammer muss diesem Gesetz noch zustimmen. – Bedeutung: Dieses vom Parlament beschlossene Gesetz bedarf der Zustimmung der zweiten Kammer (des Oberhauses, des Senats, des Bundesrates), bevor das Staatsoberhaupt es unterzeichnen darf.
   The second chamber must still approve this law. – Meaning: This law passed by parliament requires the approval of the second chamber (the upper house, the senate, the federal council) before the head of state may sign it.

Principal parts

Infinitiv

müssen

Präteritum

musste

Partizip II

gemusst

Conjugation

Synonyms

• nötig
• notwendig
• verpflichtet

Contrasting words

• dürfen