verb

versauen

mess · mess up

Definition & meaning

versauen is a colloquial German verb with several related meanings:

To spoil, ruin, or mess something up
- It can describe making a mistake that damages a situation or result.
- Example: eine Chance versauen — to blow or ruin an opportunity.
- Du hast alles versaut. — You messed everything up.
To make something dirty or filthy
- It can mean to soil something, often carelessly.
- Example: den Teppich versauen — to make the carpet dirty.
To ruin something for oneself
- With a reflexive construction, it can mean to damage one’s own chances, health, or situation.
- Example: sich den Magen versauen — to upset or ruin one’s stomach.
- Example: sich die Zukunft versauen — to ruin one’s future.

The word is informal and can sound rather blunt or vulgar depending on the context. More neutral alternatives are “to spoil,” “to damage,” or “to make dirty.”

Grammar & Word origin

versauen is a weak, separable verb:

Infinitive: versauen
Present tense: ich versaue, du versaust, er/sie versaut
Simple past: versaute
Perfect: hat versaut
Separable form: Er hat alles versaut. — He ruined everything.

It is formed with ver- and Sau , literally “sow” or “pig.” The original image is of making something dirty like a pig. The prefix gives the verb a negative or destructive meaning.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

verderben — to spoil or ruin; more neutral and somewhat broader than versauen
ruinieren — to ruin; more formal and less colloquial
kaputtmachen — to damage or wreck; informal, but less vulgar
vermasseln — to botch or mess up; usually focuses on making a mistake
verschmutzen — to soil or pollute; more precise and neutral for the “make dirty” meaning