das
Versehen
🧐 What Exactly is a Versehen?
Das Versehen (noun, neuter) refers to an unintentional mistake, an error, an oversight, or a mishap, usually caused by carelessness (Unachtsamkeit), negligence (Nachlässigkeit), or a misjudgment (Fehleinschätzung). It often implies that there was no ill intent (keine böse Absicht) behind it.
- It's something that happens, often without being noticed immediately.
- Synonyms include Irrtum (error, mistake), Fehler (fault, error), Missgeschick (mishap), Lapsus (slip).
- It is typically used in the phrase aus Versehen (by mistake, accidentally).
🚨 Attention: Although often unintentional, a Versehen can still have consequences.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
🔬 Grammar Spotlight: Das Versehen
Das Versehen is a nominalized verb (from versehen) and is declined as a neuter noun. It follows the n-declension in the plural (rarely used).
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Versehen |
| Genitive | des | Versehens |
| Dative | dem | Versehen |
| Accusative | das | Versehen |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Versehen |
| Genitive | der | Versehen |
| Dative | den | Versehen |
| Accusative | die | Versehen |
Example Sentences
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte, das war ein Versehen meinerseits.
(Please excuse me, that was an oversight on my part.) - Mir ist da wohl ein kleines Versehen unterlaufen.
(I seem to have made a small mistake there.) - Er hat die E-Mail aus Versehen an den falschen Empfänger geschickt.
(He sent the email to the wrong recipient by mistake.) - Solche Versehen können im Berufsleben teuer werden. (Plural)
(Such oversights can be costly in professional life.)
🗣️ How to Use "das Versehen"?
Das Versehen is used to describe an unintentional error. It often carries an apologetic or mitigating connotation.
- Typical Collocations:
- aus Versehen: The most common form, meaning 'by mistake', 'accidentally'.
- ein Versehen begehen/machen: to make a mistake/oversight.
- ein Versehen unterläuft jemandem: someone makes a mistake (lit. 'a mistake happens to someone').
- um Verzeihung für ein Versehen bitten: to apologize for a mistake/oversight.
- Context: Often used in everyday life, but also in professional or formal contexts when admitting a mistake caused by carelessness.
- Distinction from similar words:
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Think of something you overlook (over-sehen). Little things you overlook are often neuter ('das'). Like 'das Detail' you missed. So, it's das Versehen for the oversight.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you intended to watch (sehen) something carefully, but you did it wrong (prefix ver- often implies something going wrong or amiss). So, you ver-siehst dich (make a mistake by looking wrongly) – that's a Versehen. Or you simply over-looked (über-sehen) something – also a Versehen.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Irrtum: Error, mistake (often in judgment or assumption).
- Fehler: Error, mistake, fault (more general).
- Missgeschick: Mishap, little accident.
- Lapsus: (Lat.) Slip of the tongue/pen, lapse.
- Panne: Breakdown, glitch, mishap (often technical).
- Unachtsamkeit: Carelessness, inattention (as the cause).
⚠️ Potential for Confusion:
- versehen (verb): Can also mean 'to provide', 'to equip', 'to carry out', 'to perform'. Example: Ich versehe meine Aufgabe. (I perform my duty.) This is different from 'ein Versehen'.
- sich versehen (reflexive verb): Can mean 'to be mistaken' or 'to stock up on something'. Example: Ich habe mich im Datum versehen. (I was mistaken about the date.)
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Computer einen Fehler gemacht?
Er hatte einen Bug – aber er bestand darauf, es sei nur ein kleines Versehen der Software! 😄
(Why did the computer make a mistake?
It had a bug – but it insisted it was just a small software oversight!)
📜 A Poem About an Oversight
Ein kleiner Klick, ein falscher Ort,
schon ist die Mail ganz anderswo fort.
Kein böser Wille, keine List,
nur dass man kurz unachtsam ist.
Ein tiefes Seufzen, tut mir leid,
das Versehen kostet Zeit.
Man lernt daraus, passt besser auf,
nimmt Fehler ungern nur in Kauf.
(A little click, a place that's wrong,
the email's gone where it doesn't belong.
No evil will, no cunning plot,
just carelessness right on the spot.
A heavy sigh, "I'm sorry, friend,"
the oversight costs time to mend.
One learns from this, takes better care,
accepting errors is quite rare.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin kein Plan und keine Tat,
passiere schnell und ohne Rat.
Oft sagt man "Entschuldigung!" für mich,
denn Absicht war es sicherlich nicht.
Was bin ich?
(I'm not a plan and not a deed,
I happen fast, without a lead.
Often "Sorry!" is said for me,
'cause intention there certainly wasn't, you see.
What am I?)
(Solution: das Versehen / an oversight, mistake)
🧩 Other Tidbits
Word Formation: The noun das Versehen is a nominalization (substantiviertes Verb) of the infinitive of the verb versehen. This type of word formation is very common in German (e.g., das Laufen - running, das Essen - eating/food).
Historical Context: The term often emphasizes human fallibility and is sometimes relevant in legal contexts when discussing negligence (Fahrlässigkeit) versus intent (Vorsatz).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Versehen?
The word Versehen is neuter, so the correct article is always das Versehen. It means an unintentional mistake or oversight.