Meaning
To begin to sleep.
Cultural Background
Germans value 'Feierabend' (the end of the workday), and 'schlafen gehen' is the final step of this ritual. In Austria, you might also hear 'schlafen legen' which is slightly more formal or used for children.
Word Order
In a main clause, 'gehen' is the second element, and 'schlafen' goes to the very end.
Perfect Tense
Always use 'sein' for this phrase: 'Ich bin schlafen gegangen'.
Meaning
To begin to sleep.
Word Order
In a main clause, 'gehen' is the second element, and 'schlafen' goes to the very end.
Perfect Tense
Always use 'sein' for this phrase: 'Ich bin schlafen gegangen'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence.
Ich ___ heute früh schlafen.
The subject is 'Ich', so the verb 'gehen' must be conjugated as 'gehe'.
Which is correct?
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
This is the standard collocation without extra prepositions.
Match the German phrase to its English meaning.
schlafen gehen
The phrase literally means to go to sleep.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Bist du müde? B: Ja, ich ___.
This is the correct collocation for expressing the intent to sleep.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIch ___ heute früh schlafen.
The subject is 'Ich', so the verb 'gehen' must be conjugated as 'gehe'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
This is the standard collocation without extra prepositions.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
The phrase literally means to go to sleep.
A: Bist du müde? B: Ja, ich ___.
This is the correct collocation for expressing the intent to sleep.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsNo, that is incorrect. Use 'Ich gehe schlafen'.
No, it is neutral and used in everyday life.
'Ins Bett gehen' means going to the bed, while 'schlafen gehen' means going to sleep. They are often used interchangeably.
Use 'Ich bin schlafen gegangen'.
Yes, it is very common for parents to say this to their children.
No, it is a polite way to signal you are tired.
Related Phrases
ins Bett gehen
synonymto go to bed
schlafen legen
similarto put to sleep
einschlafen
builds onto fall asleep
