German Conversation · Level 77
59 words
German word
unterlassen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˌʊntɐˈlasən/
Meaning
- verbrefrain from ___
Example
Bitte unterlassen Sie laute Gespräche.
Please refrain from loud conversations.
More examples
In diesem Fall sollte man medizinische Eingriffe unterlassen.
In this case, one should refrain from medical procedures.
Core concept
A deliberate hand stays away from an action, leaving it undone.
Common phrases
laute Gespräche unterlassen
refrain from having loud conversations
jegliche Maßnahmen unterlassen
refrain from taking any measures
Similar words
verzichten: Voluntarily go without something wanted or requested.
vermeiden: Avoid an action to prevent an undesirable result.
aufhören: Bring an ongoing action to an end.
unterbleiben: Not take place even though it was expected.
Definition in German
bewusst auf etwas verzichten; eine Handlung unterlassen
Word origin
Unterlassen combines the prefix unter- with lassen, historically meaning 'leave', and developed the sense of leaving an intended action undone.
Usage tips
- Unterlassen sounds formal and is common in official requests, while casual speech often uses "nicht machen" or "darauf verzichten" instead.