schlafen vs pennen
German word comparison
Listen to schlafen
Listen to pennen
| schlafen | pennen |
|---|---|
SCHLA-fen verb | /ˈpɛnən/ verb |
| to sleep; to be asleep | to sleep (colloquial/slang; to crash out) |
How they differ
Pennen is slangy and informal and often implies sleeping casually, heavily, or in an improvised place; schlafen is the neutral term for being asleep and does not carry the casual or rough connotation.
When to use each
When to use schlafen: Prefer schlafen in neutral, formal, or written contexts to describe sleeping in general.
When to use pennen: Prefer pennen in informal spoken language among friends to emphasize casual, heavy, or improvised sleep (e.g., 'crash out').
Side-by-side examples
- Ich muss heute Abend früh schlafen.
(I have to go to sleep early tonight.) - Nach der Party habe ich bei ihm gepennt.
(After the party I crashed at his place.)
Register & nuance: Colloquial/slang; common in spoken German but inappropriate in formal or written contexts.