German word

faulenzen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfaʊ̯lɛnt͡sən/

Meaning

  • verblaze around

Example

Ich faulenze gern am Wochenende.

I like lazing around on weekends.

Illustration for faulenzen (laze around)

More examples

Nach dem Lernen erlaubte sie sich eine halbe Stunde zu faulenzen.

After studying, she allowed herself half an hour to laze around.

Core concept

A whole afternoon drifts by as someone lies comfortably on the sofa doing nothing productive.

Common phrases

  • ein bisschen faulenzen

    laze around a little

  • mit einem Buch faulenzen

    laze around with a book

  • im Park faulenzen

    laze around in the park

Similar words

sich ausruhen: Rest to recover from physical or mental fatigue and regain energy.
entspannen: Become calm by releasing physical and mental tension.
chillen: Spend leisure time in a casual, relaxed, unhurried way.
dösen: Sleep lightly or drift in and out of sleep without fully waking.

Definition in German

Ohne Pflicht oder Arbeit gemütlich und träge Zeit verbringen, oft liegend oder auf dem Sofa.

Word origin

The verb developed from Middle High German vūlenzen and is related to faul, preserving the idea of idle, sluggish behavior.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English take it easy, faulenzen usually suggests deliberately doing nothing rather than simply resting between activities.

Other meanings

  • loaf aroundverb
  • idleverb
  • take it easyverb

Opposites

  • arbeitenworkverb
  • sich bemühenmake an effortverb

Related words

  • der Faulenzerloafernoun
  • die Faulheitlazinessnoun
  • faullazyadjective

Word lists with this word