verfehlen
to miss
To fail to hit a target one was aiming at.
EXAMPLE
Der Fußballspieler hat das leere Tor nur knapp verfehlt.
The soccer player only just missed the empty goal.
verfehlen
to miss
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
verfehlen
to miss
To fail to reach something in time or to miss an opportunity.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe den Zug um nur eine Minute verfehlt.
I missed the train by just one minute.
verfehlen
to miss
To fail to achieve the intended purpose or expected effect.
EXAMPLE
Die Werbekampagne hat ihr Ziel, neue Kunden zu gewinnen, völlig verfehlt.
The advertising campaign completely missed its goal of attracting new customers.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'verfehlen' (to miss) is inseparable. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the stem 'fehlen' in all sentence forms and often indicates a negative result or failure.
EXAMPLE
Der Schütze hat das Ziel verfehlt.
The shooter missed the target.
Sentence structure with accusative
'Verfehlen' (to miss) is a transitive verb and always needs an accusative object. You ask: whom or what am I missing?
EXAMPLE
Der Stürmer verfehlte den Ball.
The striker missed the ball.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'not to hit', 'verfehlen' (to miss) is often combined with concrete targets. Typical objects are 'das Tor' (the goal), 'die Scheibe' (the target), or generally 'das Ziel' (the target/goal).
EXAMPLE
Der Pfeil verfehlte die Zielscheibe nur um wenige Zentimeter.
The arrow missed the target by only a few centimeters.
Context: time and place
When it is about time or transport, 'verfehlen' (to miss) means that one does not reach something in time. Common combinations are 'den Zug verfehlen' (to miss the train), 'den Bus verfehlen' (to miss the bus), or 'den Anschluss verfehlen' (to miss the connection).
EXAMPLE
Wenn wir uns nicht beeilen, verfehlen wir unseren Flug.
If we don't hurry, we'll miss our flight.
Abstract goals
In an abstract or figurative sense, 'verfehlen' (to miss) is used to express that a purpose or intention was not achieved. Typical phrases are 'sein Ziel verfehlen' (to miss one's goal), 'seinen Zweck verfehlen' (to fail to serve its purpose), or 'seine Wirkung verfehlen' (to fail to have its effect).
EXAMPLE
Der Witz hat seine Wirkung verfehlt und niemand hat gelacht.
The joke missed its effect, and no one laughed.
Compare with
verfehlen vs fehlen
to be absent / to be missing
In sports, both verbs can express that an attempt fails to hit its target. Verfehlen is the generally appropriate transitive choice and names the specific target as the object. Fehlen is used this way only in particular sports contexts and can describe the failed attempt more concisely.
verfehlen
Der letzte Schuss verfehlte das Tor nur knapp.
The last shot just barely missed the goal.
fehlen
Der letzte Schuss fehlte nur knapp.
The last shot just barely missed.
In real life
Loading video examples...