I have been studying German for 40 years, and yet this sentence stumped me:
Tut mir leid, das habe ich total verpeilt.
"Sorry, I messed that up."
I don't think I've ever seen a textbook page, or a podcast, or a YouTube video, about "how to say I messed up" in German. Maybe it just doesn't occur (like, "I need a hat for my penguin.")
See my video on this topic here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvOAwXYmFPg
Here's a German list, then an English list, from Chat GPT 5.
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🇩🇪 German Expressions for “I messed up”
verpeilen
Literally comes from peilen (to take a bearing, like with a compass) plus ver- (to do something wrong).
→ Figuratively means to lose one’s bearings, to forget something completely, or to be confused.
Used for mental lapses, not serious mistakes.
Ich hab den Termin total verpeilt. = “I totally spaced / I completely forgot the appointment.”
Tone: friendly, self-deprecating, often said with a laugh.
verbocken
From Bock (male goat, ram) and originally meant to “ram” or “botch up.”
Used when you actively cause a problem, not just forget something.
Ich hab’s voll verbockt. = “I really screwed that up.”
Tone: casual, common, and not harsh—admitting you messed something up through clumsiness or bad judgment.
Mist bauen
Literally “to build manure.” It’s friendly, idiomatic, and soft.
Used for everyday mistakes that aren’t serious.
Da hab ich Mist gebaut. = “I made a mistake / I messed up.”
Tone: gentle and self-critical, like saying “Oops, my bad.”
vermasseln
Colloquial for “to mess something up,” similar to verbocken but slightly lighter.
Often used when something didn’t go as planned.
Ich hab das Meeting vermasselt. = “I messed up the meeting.”
Tone: casual and self-effacing; could sound almost apologetic.
vergeigen
Comes from Geige (violin): literally “to play the wrong notes.”
Used for missing an opportunity or failing at something.
Ich hab die Prüfung vergeigt. = “I blew the exam.”
Tone: humorous or ironic; often said after the fact, when the speaker is no longer upset.
versauen
From Sau (pig); literally “to make something filthy.”
Means to ruin something through negligence or carelessness.
Ich hab’s total versaut. = “I completely screwed it up.”
Tone: stronger and a bit rough; common among friends but not formal.
verhauen
Literally “to beat up,” but colloquially means to botch an attempt.
Used especially with tests or performances.
Ich hab die Mathearbeit verhauen. = “I bombed the math test.”
Tone: neutral and common; fits school or work contexts.
geschlampt
From schlampen (to be sloppy).
Means to do something carelessly or without attention.
Ich hab total geschlampt. = “I was careless / I really slacked off.”
Tone: mildly self-critical, often referring to laziness or lack of focus.
verkacken
Very informal and vulgar (from kacken = to defecate).
Equivalent to “I f***ed it up.” Used only among close friends.
Ich hab’s komplett verkackt. = “I totally screwed the whole thing up.”
Tone: strong slang; never use at work or in polite company.
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English Expressions for “I messed up”
I messed up
Most neutral and universal.
Can mean a small error or a major failure depending on tone.
Sorry, I messed up the order.
Tone: mild, self-blaming but not dramatic.
I screwed up
Slightly stronger, but still everyday English.
Implies you caused the problem, not that it just happened.
I really screwed up that presentation.
Tone: informal; fine among friends or coworkers, but avoid in formal writing.
I blew it
Implies you failed an opportunity, often through nervousness or bad timing.
I blew the interview.
Tone: regretful, colloquial, often used in the past tense about missed chances.
I dropped the ball
Metaphor from sports (American football).
Means you were responsible for something but failed to follow through.
I dropped the ball on that project.
Tone: businesslike and self-aware, used even in offices.
I goofed up
Childlike and lighthearted; suitable for small, harmless mistakes.
Oops, I goofed up the dates.
Tone: humorous, not serious.
I botched it
Implies poor execution, not just forgetfulness.
I botched the repair.
Tone: old-fashioned but vivid; emphasizes doing something badly.
I made a mistake
Literal, neutral, can sound slightly formal or defensive.
I made a mistake in the report.
Tone: factual, polite, sometimes used when apologizing professionally.
My bad
Very informal American expression meaning “My fault.”
Oh, my bad—I forgot to send it.
Tone: casual and modern; not rude, but too slangy for formal contexts.
I totally spaced
Means you completely forgot something.
I totally spaced on our meeting!
Tone: youthful, informal, similar to verpeilt in spirit.
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| German | Closest English match | Shared nuance |
|---|---|---|
| verpeilen | I totally spaced | absent-mindedness |
| verbocken / vermasseln | I screwed up / I blew it | active mistake |
| Mist bauen | I messed up / my bad | mild, friendly self-blame |
| vergeigen | I blew it | failure at a task or test |
| versauen | I totally screwed it up | stronger, messy failure |
| verhauen | I bombed it / I fumbled it | poor performance |
| geschlampt | I was careless | sloppiness, laziness |
| verkacken | I f***ed it up | vulgar slang |
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