German Conversation · Level 13
89 words
German word
abwesend
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈapˌveːzn̩t/
Meaning
- adjectiveabsent
Example
Er ist heute abwesend.
He is absent today.
More examples
Sie stellte eine automatische Abwesenheitsnotiz ein, weil sie abwesend war.
She set up an automatic out-of-office message because she was absent.
Core concept
An empty seat marks a missing person, while a seated person may have attention somewhere else.
Common phrases
geistig abwesend
mentally absent
krankheitsbedingt abwesend
absent due to illness
abwesend bleiben
remain absent
Similar words
anwesend: There and taking part in an event or activity.
fehlend: Not present where needed, leaving a gap or lack.
nicht da: A simple, conversational way to say that something is not there.
gedankenabwesend: Distracted because one's thoughts are focused somewhere else.
Definition in German
Nicht am erwarteten Ort sein oder geistig nicht anwesend sein; körperlich oder gedanklich fehlen.
Word origin
The adjective combines ab- ('away') with wesend, an older form related to sein ('to be'), and parallels anwesend ('present').
Usage tips
- Abwesend sounds more formal than nicht da in everyday speech, while geistesabwesend more clearly means absent-minded.
Other meanings
- awayadjective
- absent-mindedadjective
Related words
- Abwesenheitsnotizout-of-office messagenoun
- Abwesenheitabsencenoun