Cette page dans ta langue
English فارسی العربية Deutsch Español 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
A1 verb #2,500 le plus courant 8 min de lecture

vergessen

At the A1 level, 'vergessen' is one of the first verbs you learn to describe daily problems. You use it in the present tense to say you forget things (Ich vergesse oft meinen Schlüssel) and in the Perfekt tense to explain why you don't have something (Ich habe mein Buch vergessen). The focus is on concrete objects and simple tasks. You learn the basic conjugation: ich vergesse, du vergisst, er vergisst. You also learn that it is a 'strong' verb with a vowel change. At this stage, the most important thing is knowing that 'vergessen' means 'to forget' and 'to leave behind'. You should be able to form simple sentences like 'Vergiss nicht!' (Don't forget!) and 'Ich habe es vergessen' (I forgot it). You also start to see it used with the accusative case, which is the direct object of the sentence. For example, 'den Schlüssel' (masculine accusative) or 'die Tasche' (feminine accusative).
At the A2 level, you expand your use of 'vergessen' to include more complex sentence structures, specifically the 'zu + infinitive' construction. You learn to say things like 'Ich habe vergessen, dich anzurufen' (I forgot to call you). You also begin to use the Präteritum form 'vergaß' in reading, though you still use 'hat vergessen' in speaking. You start to distinguish between 'vergessen' and 'verlieren' (to lose) more clearly. You might also encounter the adjective 'vergesslich' (forgetful) to describe a person's character. At this level, you are expected to handle the irregular conjugation more reliably, especially the 'du/er/sie/es' forms. You also learn to use 'vergessen' in the context of travel and directions, such as 'Vergessen Sie nicht, an der nächsten Station auszusteigen' (Don't forget to get off at the next station).
By B1, you use 'vergessen' in a wider variety of tenses and moods, including the Konjunktiv II for polite reminders or hypothetical situations: 'Ich hätte fast vergessen, dir zu sagen...' (I almost forgot to tell you...). You also start to use the verb in more abstract contexts, like forgetting a bad experience or a person. You learn common idioms and phrases, such as 'etwas in Vergessenheit geraten lassen' (to let something fall into oblivion). Your vocabulary grows to include synonyms like 'entfallen' for formal situations. You can now discuss the concept of memory and forgetting in more detail, perhaps in the context of a conversation about school or history. You understand the difference between 'vergessen' as an action and 'das Vergessen' as a noun (the act of forgetting).
At the B2 level, you use 'vergessen' with more nuance and in more formal registers. You can use the passive voice: 'Das wurde völlig vergessen' (That was completely forgotten). You also use the reflexive form 'sich vergessen' to describe losing control of one's emotions. You are comfortable using 'vergessen' in professional emails and academic discussions. You might discuss 'die vergessene Generation' (the forgotten generation) or other complex social topics. You understand the subtle difference between 'vergessen' and 'versäumen' (to neglect/miss). Your sentence structures become more complex, integrating 'vergessen' into subordinate clauses and using it to express subtle shades of meaning, such as 'etwas absichtlich vergessen' (to intentionally forget something).
At the C1 level, 'vergessen' is used in highly sophisticated ways. You explore its philosophical and psychological implications. You might read texts about 'kollektives Vergessen' (collective forgetting) in a historical context. You use the verb in complex literary structures and understand its use in classic German literature. You can distinguish between very similar verbs like 'übersehen', 'auslassen', and 'unterschlagen' in legal or technical contexts. You use 'vergessen' to express irony or sarcasm. You are also aware of the etymological roots of the word and how they influence its meaning in different dialects or older forms of German. Your use of the verb is fluid, and you can switch between registers effortlessly, using 'vergessen' in a casual chat or a formal lecture with equal precision.
At the C2 level, you have a near-native command of 'vergessen'. You can appreciate and use the word in all its metaphorical and idiomatic glory. You understand the rhythmic and stylistic impact of using 'vergessen' in poetry or high-level rhetoric. You can discuss the neurological processes of forgetting using technical terminology, while still using the verb 'vergessen' as the central action. You are familiar with obscure idioms and regional variations. You can analyze how the word 'vergessen' has changed in meaning over centuries and how it functions as a cultural concept in German-speaking societies. Your mastery is such that you can use the verb to convey the finest nuances of human emotion, from the tragic loss of memory in old age to the blissful forgetting of a summer afternoon.
Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

vergessen en 30 secondes

  • Vergessen is a strong German verb meaning 'to forget' or 'to leave behind'.
  • It features a vowel change (e to i) in the present tense: du vergisst, er vergisst.
  • The past participle is 'vergessen', used with the auxiliary verb 'haben'.
  • It can be used with direct objects or with 'zu' + infinitive for actions.

The German verb vergessen is a fundamental pillar of the German language, primarily used to describe the act of failing to remember information, tasks, or the location of objects. At its core, it represents a cognitive lapse where previously acquired knowledge or intentions are no longer accessible to the conscious mind. However, its utility extends far beyond simple memory failure. It encompasses the physical act of leaving something behind, the emotional act of moving past a trauma, and the social act of neglecting a duty or person. Understanding 'vergessen' requires a grasp of its dual nature: the unintentional slip of the mind and the sometimes intentional act of 'forgetting' as a coping mechanism or a sign of disrespect.

Cognitive Aspect
The inability to recall facts, names, or dates that were once known.
Physical Aspect
Leaving an object in a place unintentionally, such as leaving keys on a table.
Social/Emotional Aspect
Neglecting to perform an action or deliberately choosing to ignore a past event.

Ich habe meinen Regenschirm im Bus vergessen.

Example: Physical displacement

In linguistic terms, 'vergessen' is a strong verb, which means it undergoes a vowel change in its various forms. This complexity is often a hurdle for beginners, but it is essential for reaching fluency. The shift from 'e' to 'i' in the second and third person singular (du vergisst, er vergisst) is a hallmark of many common German verbs. Furthermore, the past participle 'vergessen' is identical to the infinitive, which can be confusing but also simplifies certain sentence structures once the pattern is recognized. In philosophical contexts, 'vergessen' is often contrasted with 'erinnern' (to remember), forming a dialectic that defines human experience and history.

Wir sollten den Streit endlich vergessen.

Example: Emotional release
Temporal Use
Refers to events in the past that are no longer present in memory.
Modal Use
Often used with 'zu' + infinitive to describe forgetting to do something.

The word's etymology traces back to Old High German 'fargezzan', which combines the prefix 'far-' (expressing completion or deviation) with 'gezzan' (to get or reach). Thus, 'vergessen' literally implies a 'getting away' or a 'losing hold' of something. This historical nuance helps learners visualize the word as a loss of mental 'grip' on an idea or object. In modern usage, it is ubiquitous in both formal academic writing and the most casual street slang, making it one of the top 100 most important verbs to master in German.

Hast du vergessen, die Blumen zu gießen?

Using vergessen correctly involves navigating its irregular conjugation and its various syntactic roles. As a strong verb, it requires attention to vowel shifts. In the present tense, the stem vowel 'e' changes to 'i' for 'du' and 'er/sie/es'. This is a common pattern in German (like 'essen' or 'geben'), but 'vergessen' is unique because the stem ends in 'ss', meaning the 'du' and 'er/sie/es' forms are identical: 'du vergisst' and 'er vergisst'. This simplifies things slightly but requires context to distinguish the subject.

Du vergisst immer deinen Schlüssel.

When using the past tense, you have two main options: the Präteritum ('vergaß') and the Perfekt ('hat vergessen'). In spoken German, the Perfekt is almost exclusively used. A common mistake for learners is adding a 'ge-' prefix to the past participle. Because 'vergessen' already starts with the inseparable prefix 'ver-', it does not take an additional 'ge-'. The past participle is simply 'vergessen'. For example: 'Ich habe meine Hausaufgaben vergessen.' (I have forgotten my homework).

Direct Object (Akkusativ)
'Vergessen' almost always takes an accusative object. 'Ich vergesse den Termin' (I forget the appointment).
Infinitive Clauses
When you forget *to do* something, use 'zu' + infinitive. 'Vergiss nicht, Brot zu kaufen!'

Another advanced usage involves the reflexive form 'sich vergessen'. This means to lose one's self-control, often in a fit of rage or passion. It is a more dramatic use of the word and is found in literature or intense conversations. For instance, 'Er vergaß sich vor Zorn' (He lost his temper/forgot himself in anger). Understanding these nuances allows a learner to transition from basic communication to expressive, native-like German.

Ich habe ganz vergessen, dir zu gratulieren!

You will encounter vergessen in nearly every facet of German life. In a domestic setting, it is the most common verb for daily mishaps. Parents tell children not to forget their lunch; partners remind each other about appointments. In these contexts, the tone is usually casual and instructional. In the workplace, 'vergessen' takes on a more professional but often stressful tone. Forgetting a deadline ('eine Frist vergessen') or a meeting ('ein Meeting vergessen') is a frequent topic in office communication and emails.

Entschuldigung, ich habe unseren Termin total vergessen.

In the realm of media and culture, 'vergessen' is a powerful thematic word. News reports might discuss 'vergessene Krisen' (forgotten crises) or 'das Vergessen' as a medical condition (dementia/Alzheimer's). In music and poetry, it is used to describe lost love or the passage of time. The phrase 'unvergessen' (unforgotten) is frequently seen in obituaries or tributes to famous figures, signifying that their legacy lives on. This range from the mundane to the monumental makes 'vergessen' a versatile tool for any speaker.

Public Announcements
'Bitte vergessen Sie keine persönlichen Gegenstände im Zug.' (Please do not forget any personal items on the train).
Academic Context
Discussing historical amnesia or the 'Vergessenskurve' (forgetting curve) in psychology.

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is the confusion between vergessen and verlieren (to lose). While English uses 'lose' for both misplacing an item and losing a game, German is very specific. If you cannot find your keys because you don't know where they are, you 'verlierst' them. If you left them at home on the table, you 'vergisst' them. Using 'verlieren' when you mean 'left behind' sounds like you permanently lost the item in a way that it might be gone forever.

Falsch: Ich habe meine Tasche im Kino verloren. (Unless it was stolen/lost forever)
Richtig: Ich habe meine Tasche im Kino vergessen.

Another grammatical pitfall is the conjugation in the present tense. Many learners forget the vowel change 'e' to 'i'. Saying 'du vergesst' instead of 'du vergisst' is a common A1-A2 level mistake. Similarly, because the verb ends in 'ss', learners sometimes try to add an extra 's' for the 'du' form (vergisst), which is correct, but they might get confused with the 'er/sie/es' form which is also 'vergisst'. Remember: they are identical in this case!

The 'ge-' Prefix Error
Never say 'gevergessen'. Inseparable prefixes like 'ver-', 'be-', 'er-', 'ent-', and 'zer-' never take 'ge-' in the Perfekt.
Word Order with 'zu'
Don't forget the 'zu' in infinitive constructions. 'Ich habe vergessen anrufen' is wrong; it must be 'Ich habe vergessen ANZUrufen'.

While vergessen is the general term for forgetting, German offers several synonyms that provide more specific shades of meaning. For example, entfallen is used when a specific piece of information (like a name or a word) momentarily slips your mind. It is often used with the dative: 'Der Name ist mir entfallen' (The name escaped me). This sounds more formal and less like a personal failure than 'Ich habe den Namen vergessen'.

Sein Name ist mir im Moment leider entfallen.

Another related verb is versäumen. This is used specifically for missing an opportunity or failing to perform a duty through neglect. If you 'vergessen' a meeting, you simply didn't remember it. If you 'versäumen' a meeting, it implies a more serious neglect of responsibility. Similarly, auslassen means to leave something out or omit it, which can be a form of forgetting but is often more about the structure of a list or a sequence.

Übersehen
To overlook something. You didn't 'forget' it in your mind, but your eyes missed it.
Verlegen
To misplace something. You know you have it, but you put it in the wrong place and can't find it.

In literary contexts, you might find verschmachten or vergehen, though these are much more specialized. For most learners, distinguishing between 'vergessen', 'verlegen', and 'entfallen' is the key to sounding more like a native speaker. Each word carries a different level of intentionality and formality, allowing you to describe your mental lapses with precision.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

""

Argot

""

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

1

Ich vergesse meinen Namen nicht.

I don't forget my name.

Present tense, first person.

2

Hast du dein Handy vergessen?

Did you forget your phone?

Perfekt tense with 'haben'.

3

Vergiss das Brot nicht!

Don't forget the bread!

Imperative (informal singular).

4

Er vergisst immer alles.

He always forgets everything.

Vowel change e -> i in 3rd person.

5

Wir vergessen den Termin.

We are forgetting the appointment.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

6

Ich habe die Hausaufgaben vergessen.

I forgot the homework.

Past participle 'vergessen' (no ge-).

7

Vergessen Sie Ihren Koffer nicht.

Don't forget your suitcase.

Imperative (formal).

8

Sie vergisst ihren Schlüssel oft.

She often forgets her key.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

1

Ich habe vergessen, dich anzurufen.

I forgot to call you.

Infinitive clause with 'zu'.

2

Vergiss nicht, die Tür abzuschließen.

Don't forget to lock the door.

Imperative with 'zu' + infinitive.

3

Er hat ganz vergessen, dass heute Montag ist.

He completely forgot that today is Monday.

Subordinate clause with 'dass'.

4

Wir haben vergessen, Milch zu kaufen.

We forgot to buy milk.

Perfekt + infinitive clause.

5

Warum hast du meinen Geburtstag vergessen?

Why did you forget my birthday?

Question in Perfekt.

6

Ich vergaß meinen Regenschirm im Bus.

I forgot my umbrella on the bus.

Präteritum (written style).

7

Sie hat vergessen, die Blumen zu gießen.

She forgot to water the flowers.

Infinitive construction.

8

Vergiss bitte nicht, mir zu schreiben.

Please don't forget to write to me.

Imperative with 'mir' (dative).

1

Ich hätte fast vergessen, das Licht auszumachen.

I almost forgot to turn off the light.

Konjunktiv II (hätte fast...).

2

Es ist wichtig, die Vergangenheit nicht zu vergessen.

It is important not to forget the past.

Adjective + infinitive clause.

3

Er ist sehr vergesslich geworden.

He has become very forgetful.

Adjective 'vergesslich'.

4

Ich habe völlig vergessen, wie man das macht.

I completely forgot how to do that.

Indirect question with 'wie'.

5

Man sollte seine Wurzeln nie vergessen.

One should never forget one's roots.

Modal verb 'sollte'.

6

Hast du vergessen, was ich dir gesagt habe?

Did you forget what I told you?

Relative clause with 'was'.

7

Ich versuche, den Vorfall zu vergessen.

I am trying to forget the incident.

Verb 'versuchen' + infinitive.

8

Die Regel wurde leider oft vergessen.

The rule was unfortunately often forgotten.

Passive voice (Zustandspassiv).

1

Er vergaß sich vor lauter Wut.

He lost his self-control out of sheer anger.

Reflexive use 'sich vergessen'.

2

Das Ereignis ist längst in Vergessenheit geraten.

The event has long been forgotten.

Idiom 'in Vergessenheit geraten'.

3

Ich kann nicht vergessen, wie sie mich behandelt hat.

I can't forget how she treated me.

Modal verb + indirect question.

4

Vergessen wir nicht die sozialen Aspekte dieser Krise.

Let's not forget the social aspects of this crisis.

Adhortative (let's...).

5

Es ist leicht zu vergessen, wie privilegiert wir sind.

It's easy to forget how privileged we are.

Impersonal 'es ist'.

6

Sie hat absichtlich vergessen, ihn einzuladen.

She intentionally forgot to invite him.

Adverb 'absichtlich'.

7

Wir dürfen die Opfer nicht vergessen.

We must not forget the victims.

Modal verb 'dürfen'.

8

Er hat seine guten Manieren völlig vergessen.

He completely forgot his good manners.

Abstract object 'Manieren'.

1

Die Tat ist unentschuldbar und darf nicht vergessen werden.

The act is inexcusable and must not be forgotten.

Passive with modal verb.

2

Die Kunst des Briefeschreibens scheint fast vergessen.

The art of letter writing seems almost forgotten.

Stative passive.

3

Man darf über der Arbeit das Leben nicht vergessen.

One must not forget life over work.

Prepositional phrase 'über der Arbeit'.

4

Seine Worte sind mir nie aus dem Sinn gegangen, ich konnte sie nicht vergessen.

His words never left my mind; I couldn't forget them.

Parallelism with 'aus dem Sinn gehen'.

5

Das kollektive Vergessen ist ein faszinierendes Phänomen.

Collective forgetting is a fascinating phenomenon.

Nominalized verb 'das Vergessen'.

6

Ich habe die Zeit völlig vergessen, als ich das Buch las.

I completely lost track of time while reading the book.

Temporal clause with 'als'.

7

Es wäre fatal, diese Warnung zu vergessen.

It would be fatal to forget this warning.

Konjunktiv II 'wäre'.

8

Er hat seine Herkunft nie vergessen, trotz seines Erfolgs.

He never forgot his origins, despite his success.

Concessive phrase 'trotz'.

1

In der Hektik des Alltags vergessen wir oft das Wesentliche.

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget the essentials.

Abstract nominalization 'das Wesentliche'.

2

Das Vergessen ist die Voraussetzung für das Neue.

Forgetting is the prerequisite for the new.

Philosophical statement.

3

Er hat sich in seiner Arbeit so sehr vergessen, dass er die Welt um sich herum nicht mehr wahrnahm.

He lost himself so much in his work that he no longer perceived the world around him.

Reflexive 'sich vergessen' + consecutive clause.

4

Manche Erinnerungen sind so schmerzhaft, dass man sie am liebsten vergessen möchte.

Some memories are so painful that one would most like to forget them.

Adverbial superlative 'am liebsten'.

5

Die Geschichte lehrt uns, dass nichts jemals wirklich vergessen ist.

History teaches us that nothing is ever truly forgotten.

Complex subordinate clause.

6

Er vergaß jegliche Vorsicht und stürzte sich ins Abenteuer.

He forgot all caution and plunged into adventure.

Indefinite pronoun 'jegliche'.

7

Das Werk des Dichters war jahrelang vergessen, bis es wiederentdeckt wurde.

The poet's work was forgotten for years until it was rediscovered.

Passive voice with temporal clause.

8

Vergessen wir nicht, dass wir alle nur Gäste auf dieser Erde sind.

Let us not forget that we are all but guests on this earth.

Metaphorical usage.

Collocations courantes

den Namen vergessen
den Schlüssel vergessen
die Hausaufgaben vergessen
einen Termin vergessen
die Zeit vergessen
etwas völlig vergessen
jemanden nie vergessen
absichtlich vergessen
fast vergessen
gerade vergessen

Phrases Courantes

Vergiss es!

Ich habe es ganz vergessen.

Nicht zu vergessen...

Das habe ich glatt vergessen.

Man darf nicht vergessen, dass...

Hast du vergessen, wer ich bin?

Ich werde dich nie vergessen.

Das kannst du vergessen!

In Vergessenheit geraten.

Alles um sich herum vergessen.

Souvent confondu avec

vergessen vs verlieren

vergessen vs verlassen

vergessen vs versäumen

Expressions idiomatiques

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

Facile à confondre

vergessen vs

vergessen vs

vergessen vs

vergessen vs

vergessen vs

Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

reflexive

'Sich vergessen' is emotional loss of control.

vergessen vs verlieren

Vergessen is for leaving something; Verlieren is for losing it permanently.

Erreurs courantes
  • Ich habe meinen Schlüssel verloren (when left at home).
  • Du vergesst dein Buch.
  • Ich habe ge-vergessen.
  • Ich habe vergessen das zu machen.
  • Er vergaß zu mir sagen.

Astuces

No 'ge-'

Remember that 'ver-' is an inseparable prefix. These verbs never use 'ge-' in the Perfekt. Just say 'Ich habe vergessen'.

Vowel Shift

The 'e' changes to 'i' only in the singular 'du' and 'er/sie/es' forms. 'Wir' and 'ihr' stay with 'e'.

Apologizing

If you forget something, say 'Tut mir leid, ich habe es total vergessen!' to sound natural.

Infinitive Comma

When using 'vergessen' with a 'zu' clause, always put a comma before the 'zu'. Example: 'Ich habe vergessen, zu fragen.'

Punctuality

In Germany, forgetting a meeting is worse than in some other cultures. Use 'vergessen' with a sincere apology.

Association

Associate 'vergessen' with 'get' (from its root). You 'get' away from the memory.

Prefix Stress

Never stress the 'ver-'. The stress is always on the 'gess' part of the word.

Entfallen

Use 'entfallen' for names to sound more sophisticated and less like you are at fault.

Vergiss es

Use 'Vergiss es' to dismiss a topic quickly, but be careful as it can sound rude.

Reflexive

Try using 'sich vergessen' when describing someone who lost their temper in a story.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

Old High German 'fargezzan'

Contexte culturel

The phrase 'Nie vergessen' (Never forget) is central to Holocaust remembrance.

Goethe and Schiller often used 'vergessen' to describe the loss of self in nature or love.

Forgetting an appointment is a serious social faux pas.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"Hast du schon mal etwas Wichtiges vergessen?"

"Bist du ein vergesslicher Mensch?"

"Was ist das Lustigste, das du je vergessen hast?"

"Wie erinnerst du dich an Dinge, die du nicht vergessen willst?"

"Glaubst du, man kann wirklich vergessen und vergeben?"

Sujets d'écriture

Schreibe über einen Tag, an dem du alles vergessen hast.

Was würdest du gerne aus deiner Vergangenheit vergessen?

Warum ist Vergessen manchmal gut für den Menschen?

Beschreibe eine Situation, in der du deinen Schlüssel vergessen hast.

Was darf die Menschheit niemals vergessen?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, verbs starting with 'ver-' do not take the 'ge-' prefix in the past participle. It is simply 'vergessen'.

Vergessen means you left something behind or forgot a fact. Verlieren means you lost it and don't know where it is.

Ich vergesse, du vergisst, er vergisst, wir vergessen, ihr vergesst, sie vergessen.

Yes, 'Ich habe ihn vergessen' can mean you forgot to meet him or you no longer think about him.

It means 'Forget it!' or 'Never mind!', often used when someone is annoyed or giving up.

It is a strong verb because the stem vowel changes (e -> i, e -> a).

Ich habe vergessen, Milch zu kaufen.

The noun is 'das Vergessen' (the act of forgetting) or 'die Vergesslichkeit' (forgetfulness).

It takes the Accusative case for the object being forgotten.

No, 'vergaß' is mostly used in written stories. In speaking, use 'habe vergessen'.

Teste-toi 180 questions

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

Contenu associé

C'tait utile ?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !