English–German
“should” in German
German
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈzɔlən/
Example
Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken.
You should drink more water.
How to say “should” in German
“Should” in German is sollen.
An outside rule, request, or report points toward an action as the expected course, rather than as the speaker's own necessity.
Example sentences with sollen
Es soll heute regnen.
It is said to rain today.
Tips for using sollen
- Sollen + infinitive can report another person's claim or expectation, as in Er soll krank sein, meaning 'He is said to be ill.'