verb#54 by frequency

sollen

/ˈzɔlən/

should; to be obligated; ought; shall

Meanings

1
should; to be obligated (to do something); ought; shall
- Sie sollten es ihm sagen.
  You should tell him.
  Tatoeba · al_ex_an_der · CC BY 2.0 FR
- Das hätte ich sagen sollen.
  That's what I should've said.
  Tatoeba · Tamy · CC BY 2.0 FR
2
to be recommended (to do something); to be asked (to do something)
3
to be intended (to do something); to be meant (to be something)
4
to be said (to do something); reportedly; they say that; I hear that; so they say; rumor has it; supposedly
- Er soll der reichste Mensch der Welt sein.
  They say that he is the richest person in the world.
  Tatoeba · Pfirsichbaeumchen · CC BY 2.0 FR
- Sie soll in ihn verliebt sein.
  They say that she is in love with him.
  Tatoeba · Pfirsichbaeumchen · CC BY 2.0 FR
5
would; indicates that the subordinate clause indicates something that would happen in the past but after the time frame of the main clause
- Soll ich das für dich machen?
  Would you like for me to do that for you?
  Tatoeba · al_ex_an_der · CC BY 2.0 FR
- Was soll ich denn damit anfangen?
  What would I do with that?
  Tatoeba · Pfirsichbaeumchen · CC BY 2.0 FR
6
should; indicates that the subordinate clause indicates a hypothetical and unlikely condition for the main clauserare