Schlafen vs Einschlafen – To Sleep vs To Fall Asleep
This short guide explains when to use schlafen (to sleep) versus einschlafen (to fall asleep) with quick examples and key vocabulary.
Schlafen
Use schlafen to describe the state of being asleep or the action of sleeping over a period of time. It focuses on the ongoing activity, not the moment of falling asleep.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🛏️ Ich schlafe normalerweise acht Stunden pro Nacht. | I usually sleep eight hours per night. |
| 🌙 Sie schläft tief und fest. | She is sleeping deeply and soundly. |
| 🐶 Der Hund schläft auf dem Teppich. | The dog is sleeping on the rug. |
| 🏕️ Wir schlafen in Zelten im Wald. | We are sleeping in tents in the forest. |
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| das Schlafzimmer | the bedroom |
| das Bett | the bed |
| der Schlaf | the sleep |
| müde | tired |
| die Decke | the blanket |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| schlafen | to sleep |
| der Schlaf | sleep (noun) |
| tief schlafen | to sleep deeply |
| fest schlafen | to sleep soundly |
| der Mittagsschlaf | nap |
| ausschlafen | to sleep in |
| schlaflos | sleepless |
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Einschlafen
Use einschlafen to describe the moment when someone begins to sleep; it highlights the transition from wakefulness to sleep. It is a separable verb that often appears with time expressions.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🛋️ Ich lese ein Buch, um leichter einzuschlafen. | I read a book to fall asleep more easily. |
| ☕ Er trinkt keinen Kaffee am Abend, damit er besser einschlafen kann. | He doesn’t drink coffee in the evening so he can fall asleep better. |
| 🧘 Sie macht Entspannungsübungen vor dem Einschlafen. | She does relaxation exercises before falling asleep. |
| ⏰ Es dauert oft lange, bis ich eingeschlafen bin. | It often takes a long time for me to fall asleep. |
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| einschlafen | to fall asleep |
| der Einschlafzeitpunkt | time of falling asleep |
| müde werden | to become tired |
| der Wecker | the alarm clock |
| kurz vor dem Einschlafen | shortly before falling asleep |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| einschlafen | to fall asleep |
| das Einschlafen | falling asleep (noun) |
| schwer einschlafen | to have trouble falling asleep |
| schnell einschlafen | to fall asleep quickly |
| der Einschlaftee | sleep tea |
| die Schlafmaske | sleep mask |
| die Einschlafmusik | sleep music |
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Summary
Use einschlafen for the moment you begin to sleep, and schlafen for the ongoing state or action of being asleep. Small time expressions help signal which verb fits best.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025