German Phrase
Lass andere arbeiten.
Meaning
‘Lass andere arbeiten.’ is a short imperative telling someone to let other people do the work. It can be a polite reminder to stop micromanaging or a firm instruction to delegate tasks.
When to use
Use it in informal or semi‑formal settings such as a team meeting, a classroom, or a casual conversation when you want to encourage delegation or give space to others to handle a task.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lassanderearbeiten.
Imperative of lassen
‘Lass’ is the du‑imperative of the verb ‘lassen’ meaning ‘let’ or ‘allow’. It is used to give a direct command.
Indefinite pronoun ‘andere’
‘andere’ means ‘others’ and functions here as the object of the verb ‘lassen’.
Bare infinitive after ‘lassen’
When ‘lassen’ is used as a modal‑like verb, it is followed by a bare infinitive (no ‘zu’).
🗨In Conversation
Lass andere arbeiten.
Let others work.
Okay, ich überlasse es ihnen.
Okay, I’ll leave it to them.
✕Common Mistakes
Lassen andere arbeiten.
‘Lassen’ is the infinitive; the correct imperative form is ‘Lass’.
Du lass andere arbeiten.
The subject pronoun ‘du’ is usually omitted in German imperatives.
Lass andere zu arbeiten.
After ‘lassen’ the infinitive does not take ‘zu’.
↔Alternatives
Lass die anderen arbeiten.
Let the others work.
Lass sie arbeiten.
Let them work.
Lass die anderen das erledigen.
Let the others take care of it.
Cultural Tip
In German workplaces, clear delegation is appreciated, but the tone matters. Saying ‘Lass andere arbeiten.’ in a friendly, collaborative tone shows respect for colleagues’ competence, while a harsh tone can sound dismissive. Adjust your intonation and body language to match the level of formality.