German word

vernachlässigen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈnaːxlɛsɪgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbneglect

Example

Er vernachlässigt seine Familie.

He neglects his family.

Illustration for vernachlässigen (neglect)

More examples

In letzter Zeit hat er seine sozialen Kontakte vernachlässigt.

Lately, he has neglected his social contacts.

Core concept

A person or duty left without needed care or attention, so responsibilities or needs go unmet.

Common phrases

  • soziale Kontakte vernachlässigen

    neglect social contacts

  • die Sicherheit vernachlässigen

    neglect safety

Similar words

ignorieren: Deliberately refuse to acknowledge someone, something, or what they do.
übersehen: Fail to notice something because of inattention.
versäumen: Fail to meet a deadline or fulfill a duty in time.
missachten: Disregard an instruction or rule and refuse to follow it.

Definition in German

eine Person oder Aufgabe nicht hinreichend betreuen oder beachten, wodurch Pflichten oder Bedürfnisse ausbleiben

Word origin

Vernachlässigen is formed with the prefix ver- from the adjective nachlässig, meaning careless or negligent.

Usage tips

  • In vernachlässigen, ver- is inseparable, so finite forms keep it attached and the past participle is vernachlässigt.

Other meanings

  • leave uncared forverb
  • overlookverb
  • pay no heed toverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Vernachlässigungneglectnoun
  • vernachlässigbarnegligibleadjective

Word lists with this word