German Phrase
Manchmal lass ich das Frühstück aus.
Meaning
‘Manchmal lass ich das Frühstück aus.’ means ‘Sometimes I skip breakfast.’ It expresses an occasional habit rather than a permanent rule, and it can hint at a busy morning, lack of appetite, or a deliberate dietary choice.
When to use
Use this sentence when talking about your daily routine, health habits, or when explaining why you didn’t eat in the morning. It works well in informal conversations with friends, family, or a language partner.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ManchmallassichdasFrühstückaus
Manchmal
An adverb meaning 'sometimes', it can be placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.
auslassen (separable verb)
The verb 'auslassen' means 'to skip' or 'to omit'. In the present tense it separates: the finite verb (lasse) is in second position, the prefix 'aus' goes to the end.
Verb‑second (V2) word order
German main clauses place the finite verb in second position; the subject follows if the sentence starts with an adverb.
Accusative object
‘das Frühstück’ is the direct object of ‘auslassen’ and therefore appears in the accusative case.
Colloquial contraction ‘lass ich’
In everyday speech many speakers say ‘lass ich … aus’, but the standard form is ‘lasse ich … aus’.
🗨In Conversation
Manchmal lass ich das Frühstück aus.
Sometimes I skip breakfast.
Warum? Hast du keinen Hunger oder bist du einfach zu beschäftigt?
Why? Are you not hungry or just too busy?
✕Common Mistakes
Manchmal lass ich das Frühstück aus.
In standard German the verb should be conjugated as ‘lasse’ (ich lasse). ‘Lass ich … aus’ is colloquial but not recommended for formal writing.
Manchmal ich lasse das Frühstück aus.
The finite verb must stay in second position; the subject cannot come before the verb when the sentence starts with an adverb.
Manchmal lasse ich aus das Frühstück.
The separable prefix ‘aus’ must be placed at the end of the clause, not before the object.
↔Alternatives
Manchmal überspringe ich das Frühstück.
Sometimes I skip breakfast.
Ich lasse manchmal das Frühstück aus.
I sometimes skip breakfast.
Gelegentlich verzichte ich auf das Frühstück.
Occasionally I forgo breakfast.
Cultural Tip
In Germany breakfast (Frühstück) is traditionally considered the most important meal of the day, especially on workdays. Skipping it occasionally is socially acceptable, but regularly omitting breakfast might be seen as unhealthy. When you want to sound more formal, use the full form ‘lasse ich … aus’ or the synonym ‘überspringe ich …’. The prefix ‘aus’ is a separable verb element and must be placed at the end of the clause in standard German.