In German, there are different ways to express the idea of leaving something somewhere, depending on the context and the object being left behind. One of the most common verbs for this is "lassen." It is used when something is intentionally left in a place, often because it will be picked up later. For example, "Ich lasse meine Tasche hier." (I’m leaving my bag here.) The verb lassen emphasizes that the object is not abandoned but rather temporarily placed somewhere.
If leaving an object somewhere is more about necessity rather than choice, "stehen lassen" or "liegen lassen" are often used. These separable verbs clarify whether the object is left in an upright or flat position. If someone forgets their phone on a table, they might say "Ich habe mein Handy auf dem Tisch liegen lassen." (I left my phone on the table.) When referring to a car parked at a location, "Ich habe mein Auto am Bahnhof stehen lassen." (I left my car at the station.) sounds more natural than just lassen, as it gives a clearer picture of how the car remains there.
For a more neutral way of stating that something was left somewhere, without focusing on intention or necessity, "abstellen" can be useful, especially for vehicles or objects placed temporarily. Saying "Ich habe mein Fahrrad vor dem Haus abgestellt." (I left my bike in front of the house.) implies that it was placed there for a reason, without suggesting abandonment.
Another option is "zurücklassen," which conveys a stronger sense of leaving something behind, often permanently or due to circumstances beyond control. It is commonly used for objects or even people that are left in a place, such as in "Er musste sein Gepäck am Flughafen zurücklassen." (He had to leave his luggage at the airport.) This verb often implies that retrieving the object is difficult or impossible.
The concept of leaving is not limited to objects. When referring to leaving a place, "verlassen" is used. If someone exits a building, they might say "Ich verlasse das Büro um 18 Uhr." (I leave the office at 6 p.m.) Unlike lassen, which focuses on objects left behind, verlassen emphasizes the departure of a person. A related phrase is "aufbrechen," which conveys setting off on a journey, as in "Wir brechen früh am Morgen auf." (We leave early in the morning.)
As you've noticed, the most commonly used verb for this concept is "lassen," as it covers a wide range of situations where something is left behind. However, lassen is also frequently used in other contexts beyond physical objects. It can indicate allowing something to happen, as in "Lass mich in Ruhe!" (Leave me alone!) or giving permission, as in "Er lässt seine Kinder lange aufbleiben." (He lets his children stay up late.) It also appears in causative constructions, where it means having something done by someone else, like "Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren." (I’m having my car repaired.)