German Conversation · Level 5
89 words
German word
vergessen
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈgɛsn̩/
Meaning
- verbforget
Example
Ich vergesse oft Namen.
I often forget names.
More examples
Heute habe ich die Hausaufgabe vergessen.
Today I forgot the homework.
Core concept
A name or object slips out of mental hold and is left behind.
Common phrases
den Namen vergessen
forget the name
die Hausaufgabe vergessen
forget the homework
das Wort vergessen
forget the word
Similar words
sich erinnern (an): Recall something from the past by bringing it back to mind.
entfallen: Lose a piece of information from memory.
verpassen: Miss an event or opportunity by arriving too late.
verlieren: Put an object somewhere and be unable to find it.
Definition in German
Etwas im Gedächtnis nicht behalten; unabsichtlich an etwas nicht denken.
Word origin
German vergessen is an inherited Germanic verb, recorded as Old High German firgezzan and related to English forget.
Usage tips
- Vergessen is a strong verb with the forms vergisst, vergaß, and hat vergessen, and the forgotten thing takes the accusative.
Other meanings
- leave behindverb
Related words
- Vergesslichkeitforgetfulnessnoun
- vergesslichforgetfuladjective
- unvergesslichunforgettableadjective