Verlatzen

Verlatzen is a neologistic verb used in German-language online slang to describe abruptly withdrawing from a social commitment or leaving a situation without explanation. It is informal and not part of standard dictionaries, and its precise usage can vary across communities. Most attestations come from internet forums, social media, and gaming chats where speakers coin playful blends to express a casual form of ghosting or bailing on plans.

Etymology for verlatzen is uncertain. It appears to be a coined form built from a ver- prefix combined with a nonstandard root latzen, and it has sometimes been linked to the Dutch ver laten (to leave) by phonetic similarity rather than by a documented historical connection. As a slang term, its meaning and connotations are not fixed and can shift with context.

Usage and nuance. Verlatzen commonly denotes withdrawing from an obligation, an event, or a conversation without giving a reason. Depending on community norms, it may carry a light, joking tone or a critical one, implying unreliability or disrespect. In practice, speakers may use it in present or past forms, such as “Er verlatzt oft verlässlichere Pläne” or “Sie hat verlatzt und meldet sich nie wieder.”

Cultural reception. Because verlatzen is not standardized, acceptance relies on context, audience, and intent. It is generally understood among online communities that the term is informal and not suitable for formal writing. Related slang terms include ghosting and flaking.