verpennen
to oversleep
(Colloquial) To sleep in; to not wake up on time and therefore miss an appointment or obligation.
EXAMPLE
Mist, ich habe total verpennt und den Wecker nicht gehört!
Damn, I totally overslept and didn't hear the alarm!
verpennen
to oversleep / miss
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Meanings
verpennen
to miss
(Colloquial) To miss something or fail to notice it because of carelessness, forgetfulness, or sluggishness.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Anmeldefrist für den Sportkurs komplett verpennt.
I completely missed the registration deadline for the sports course.
Usage tips
Word structure and register
The verb is made up of the prefix 'ver-' and the colloquial word 'pennen' (to sleep). The prefix 'ver-' here signals a mistake or omission. Because of 'pennen', the word is very informal.
EXAMPLE
Ich bin gestern auf dem Sofa eingepennt.
I dozed off on the sofa yesterday.
Inseparable verb
'Verpennen' is an inseparable verb because it has the prefix 'ver-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Er hat den wichtigsten Teil des Films verpennt.
He missed the most important part of the film.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'etwas versäumen' (to miss something), 'verpennen' is always used with an accusative object. Typical things that one 'verpennt' (misses) are appointments, deadlines, opportunities, or important events.
EXAMPLE
Leider habe ich die Chance auf die günstigen Tickets total verpennt.
Unfortunately, I totally missed the chance to get the cheap tickets.
Context clue
Whether 'verschlafen' (to oversleep) or 'etwas versäumen' (to miss something) is meant can often be recognized from the object. If there is no object, or if it refers to sleeping ('den Morgen verpennen' — to sleep through the morning), meaning 1 is intended. With a specific event as the object ('den Termin verpennen' — to miss the appointment), meaning 2 is intended.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe heute Morgen total verpennt und bin zu spät gekommen.
I totally overslept this morning and arrived late.
Compare with
verpennen vs verschlafen
to oversleep / miss
Verschlafen and verpennen can both mean that someone does not wake up on time and therefore misses something. Verschlafen is neutral and also fits factual reports. Verpennen describes the same process in a distinctly colloquial way and is especially suited to casual conversations.
verpennen
Im Gespräch mit ihrem Freund sagte Mia, sie habe den Termin verpennt.
In a conversation with her friend, Mia said she had slept through the appointment.
verschlafen
Im Gespräch mit der Chefin sagte Mia, sie habe den Termin verschlafen.
In a conversation with her boss, Mia said she had slept through the appointment.
In real life
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