Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| schlafen | [ˈʃlaːfn̩] (narrow) [ˈʃlaːfən] (narrow) |
|
| pennen | /ˈpɛnən/ | colloquial |
| schlaaffe | Alemannic German | |
| schlooffe | Alemannic German | |
| schlofe | Alemannic German | |
| schlaafä | Alemannic German | |
| schloafen | Alemannic German | |
| schlàfu | Alemannic German |
The verb refers to resting in a state of reduced consciousness. For a more poetic or informal feeling of light sleep or dozing off, you can also use schlummern.
Which one should you use?
While schlafen is the standard verb, pennen is a common colloquial or slang term. Additionally, the phrase pennen gehen is used to mean "going to sleep".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use schlafen for neutral or formal contexts. Use pennen for very informal situations with friends, as it is a slang term widely used in casual conversations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Alemannic-German dialect, several forms are used: schlaaffe, schlooffe, schlofe, schlaafä, schloafen and schlàfu.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb schlafen is an irregular (strong) verb. The third person singular present tense is schläft, the simple past tense is schlief and the past participle used for perfect tenses is geschlafen.
Did you know?
- A person who sleeps too much or is habitually lazy is sometimes jokingly called a Schlafmütze, which literally translates to 'sleep cap'.
- The slang term pennen might be linked to the word 'Penne', which historically referred to a low-quality lodging or 'dosshouse'.
- In Germany, the phrase Schlaf gut is the standard way to say 'sleep well', but it is often accompanied by the wish Träum süß, meaning 'dream sweet'.
Examples in context
- Wo wird Tom schlafen?Where's Tom going to sleep?This sentence shows how to use schlafen when asking about a future location for sleeping.Tatoeba #12329018 by mayabe, translation #1841428 by CK
- Wo werde ich schlafen?Where will I sleep?This sentence demonstrates the use of schlafen for a future intention.Tatoeba #5746400 by Esperantostern, translation #6781719 by CK
- Du mußt mehr schlafen.You need to get more sleep.This sentence uses schlafen to express a necessity regarding sleep.Tatoeba #12650949 by Waldelfe, translation #11001312 by CK
- Ich möchte jetzt schlafen gehen.I want to go to sleep now.
- Er hat gestern gut geschlafen.He slept well yesterday.
- Ich brauche etwas Ruhe und möchte schlafen.I need some rest and want to sleep.
- Die ganze Nacht im sanften Schlummer verbringen.To spend the whole night in gentle slumber.
- Er hat den ganzen Tag gepennt.He slept the whole day.
- Ich bin total müde, ich geh jetzt pennen.I'm really tired, I'm going to sleep now.
- Ich will noch ein wenig schlummern.I want to doze off a bit longer.
- 672 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are in their bedroom at night.
- LukasBist du schon müde?Are you tired already?
- JuliaJa, ich möchte jetzt schlafen.Yes, I want to sleep now.
- LukasGute Nacht, Julia.Good night, Julia.
- JuliaGute Nacht, Lukas.Good night, Lukas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleep” translations and entries schlafen, pennen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pennen, schlafen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
