The German verb "schlafen" means "to sleep" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "schlafen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "schlafen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | schlafe |
| du | you (informal) | schläfst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | schläft |
| wir | we | schlafen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | schlaft |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | schlafen |
Er schläft im Bett.
He sleeps in the bed.
How to Conjugate "schlafen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | schlief |
| du | you (informal) | schliefst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | schlief |
| wir | we | schliefen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | schlieft |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | schliefen |
Er schlief auf dem Sofa ein.
He fell asleep on the sofa.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe geschlafen |
| du | you (informal) | hast geschlafen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat geschlafen |
| wir | we | haben geschlafen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt geschlafen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben geschlafen |
Er hat im Hotel geschlafen.
He has slept in the hotel.
How to Conjugate "schlafen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte geschlafen |
| du | you (informal) | hattest geschlafen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte geschlafen |
| wir | we | hatten geschlafen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet geschlafen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten geschlafen |
Er hatte tief geschlafen.
He had slept deeply.
How to Conjugate "schlafen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde schlafen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst schlafen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird schlafen |
| wir | we | werden schlafen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet schlafen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden schlafen |
Er wird im Zelt schlafen.
He will sleep in the tent.
How to Conjugate "schlafen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | schlafe |
| du | you (informal) | schlafest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | schlafe |
| wir | we | schlafen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | schlafet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | schlafen |
Er schlafe acht Stunden.
He may sleep eight hours.
How to Conjugate "schlafen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | schliefe |
| du | you (informal) | schliefest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | schliefe |
| wir | we | schliefen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | schliefet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | schliefen |
Er schliefe lieber im Hotel.
He would rather sleep in the hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions About "schlafen"
Is "schlafen" regular or irregular in German?
"Schlafen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "schlafen" mean in English?
The German verb "schlafen" means "to sleep" in English.
How do you conjugate "schlafen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → schlafe, du → schläfst, er/sie/es → schläft, wir → schlafen, ihr → schlaft, sie/Sie → schlafen.
How many tenses does "schlafen" have in German?
"Schlafen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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