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dürfen: may — meaning and examples | JadoLearn

Quality-approved learning entryVerbLevel A1

dürfen

may

to be allowed to do something

IPA/ˈdʏʁfən/

The first syllable dür carries the main stress.

dürfen: may

Meaning 1neutral · 90%

to be allowed to do something

Darf ich kurz hinausgehen?

Hier darf man nicht fotografieren.

Wir durften gestern länger spielen.

Dürfen is about permission, not ability. For ability, use können.

nicht dürfen — not to be allowedDarf ich gehen? — May I leave?

Ich darf zu gehen.

Ich darf gehen.

After a modal verb, the second verb is infinitive without zu.

In a main clause, dürfen is conjugated in position two and the other verb goes to the end: Ich darf gehen.

Choose one answer.

Which sentence is correct?

Dürfen is a modal verb for permission. It is followed by another verb in the infinitive at the end.