verpassen
to miss
Not to be in a place in time to catch a means of transport, attend an event, or take an opportunity.
EXAMPLE
Wenn wir jetzt nicht losgehen, verpassen wir den Zug.
If we don't leave now, we'll miss the train.
verpassen
to miss / to give
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Meanings
verpassen
to give / to inflict
Colloquially, to give or inflict something on someone, usually something negative such as a blow or an unpleasant task.
EXAMPLE
Der Trainer hat der Mannschaft nach der Niederlage eine zusätzliche Trainingseinheit verpasst.
After the defeat, the coach gave the team an extra training session.
verpassen
to give
Colloquially, to give something a certain appearance or quality.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben unserer alten Küche einen modernen Anstrich verpasst.
We gave our old kitchen a modern coat of paint.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verpassen' (to miss / to give) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always remains attached to the verb and often indicates that something is not reached, missed, or done incorrectly.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die letzte Folge meiner Lieblingsserie verpasst.
I missed the last episode of my favorite series.
Context clue
The meaning of 'verpassen' depends heavily on the object. If it is a means of transport or an event, it means 'not to reach/catch'. In combination with a person in the dative and a thing in the accusative, it often has a colloquial meaning.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat den Bus nur um eine Minute verpasst.
She missed the bus by only one minute.
Typical collocations
In its main meaning, 'verpassen' (to miss) is often combined with means of transport, appointments, or opportunities. Typical phrases are 'den Bus/Zug/Flug verpassen' (to miss the bus/train/flight), 'eine Chance verpassen' (to miss an opportunity), or 'den Anschluss verpassen' (to miss the connection).
EXAMPLE
So eine gute Gelegenheit solltest du nicht verpassen!
You shouldn't miss such a good opportunity!
Dative construction
In the colloquial meaning 'jemandem etwas zufügen' (to inflict something on someone), the verb needs a person in the dative and a thing in the accusative. The structure is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) verpassen.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seinem Gegner einen Denkzettel verpasst.
He taught his opponent a lesson.
Colloquial use
The meaning 'ein neues Aussehen geben' (to give a new appearance) is colloquial. It is often used to describe a change or improvement. A typical expression is 'etwas/jemandem einen neuen Anstrich verpassen' (to give something/someone a new coat of paint or a fresh look).
EXAMPLE
Wir sollten dem Wohnzimmer mal einen neuen Anstrich verpassen.
We should give the living room a fresh coat of paint sometime.
Compare with
verpassen vs vergeben
to assign / to forgive / to miss
Verpassen and vergeben can both be used when an opportunity is not taken. Verpassen often emphasizes that you did not reach a favorable time or arrived too late, while vergeben places more emphasis on leaving a specific opportunity unused. Verpassen fits when someone is late; vergeben is also possible when an opportunity is knowingly or carelessly not used.
verpassen
Weil ich fünf Minuten zu spät kam, verpasste ich die Gelegenheit zur Anmeldung.
Because I arrived five minutes late, I missed the opportunity to register.
vergeben
Obwohl ich alle Unterlagen hatte, vergab ich die Chance auf den Kurs.
Although I had all the documents, I let the chance to take the course slip away.
In real life
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