sollen
Modalverb (Modal) Level A2 ⭐ #8 Most CommonEnglish translation: should / ought to / to be supposed to
Präsens (Present)
Duty or instructions from another person
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| ich | soll | |
| du | sollst | |
| er/sie/es | soll | |
| wir | sollen | |
| ihr | sollt | |
| sie/Sie | sollen |
- Der Arzt sagt, ich soll viel Wasser trinken. — The doctor says I am supposed to drink plenty of water.
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Frequently Asked Questions: SOLLEN
Is "sollen" a regular or irregular verb in German? ▾
"sollen" is classified as a Modalverb (Modal) verb in German. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "ich soll, du sollst, er soll / Präteritum: sollte (no umlaut!)". 1st and 3rd person singular present have NO ending (ich soll, er soll). Präteritum is 'sollte'. Use 'sollte' (Konjunktiv II) to give polite advice: 'Du solltest mehr schlafen' (You should sleep more).
What does "sollen" mean in English? ▾
In English, "sollen" translates primarily to "should / ought to / to be supposed to". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A2 contexts for everyday communication.
What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "sollen"? ▾
A frequent error is saying "Er sollt hier warten." instead of "Er soll hier warten.". Why? Modal verbs in German take zero ending in 3rd person singular present: 'er soll', not *sollt.
What are common idioms or expressions with "sollen"? ▾
A popular idiom is "Was soll das?" which means "What is that supposed to mean? / What gives?" (e.g. "Was soll das denn bedeuten?").
How can I practice and memorize "sollen" conjugations? ▾
Use Verbpedia's built-in interactive flashcards, pronounce each form using native Web Speech audio, and complete the instant mini-quiz below. You can also print a distraction-free A4 cheat sheet using the Print button above.
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Test your understanding of 'sollen' across tenses
What is the 3rd person singular present form of 'sollen'?
Other Important German Verbs to Study
to be
to have
to become / will (future auxiliary)
can / to be able to
to go / to walk
to see / look
to know (facts/information)
to stay / remain
to give / there is (es gibt)
to speak / talk
to drive / ride / travel
to help (takes dative)
to take
to write
to run / to walk / to function
to bring / to take to
to drink
to think
may / to be allowed to / to have permission
to find / to consider / to think of