In German
müssen
Meaning: must, to have to
Example sentences
Ichmussjetztgehen.
I have to go now.
Dumusstdasnichtmachen.
You don't have to do that.
Wirmüssenfrühaufstehen.
We have to get up early.
Grammar note
Present tense: ich muss, du musst, er/sie/es muss, wir müssen, ihr müsst, sie/Sie müssen. The singular forms drop the umlaut, same pattern as other modal verbs.
Common mistake
“Nicht müssen” doesn't mean “must not” — it means “don't have to”, i.e. it's optional. For a real prohibition, use “nicht dürfen” instead: “Du darfst das nicht machen” (you're not allowed to).
Quick check
Which modal verb expresses obligation — “must”?
More words on this topic
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Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
Does “ich muss nicht” mean “I must not”?
No — it means “I don't have to”. For “must not” (prohibition), use “nicht dürfen”.
What's the pattern for the singular forms?
They drop the umlaut: “muss”, “musst”, “muss” — the same irregular pattern seen across modal verbs.