vergissen

Vergissen is a Dutch verb meaning to be mistaken or to make a mistake. It is typically used reflexively as zich vergissen and with a preposition when indicating what one is mistaken about, most commonly in the construction zich vergissen in iets (to be mistaken about something). The noun vergissing refers to a mistake or miscalculation. The verb can describe personal errors as well as misjudgments of people or situations.

Etymology and related forms: vergissen derives from gissen, meaning to guess, with the prefix ver- indicating a negative or erroneous sense. The sense broadened from simply misguessing to generally being mistaken. The related noun vergissing is used for a concrete error, while the verb often appears in phrases such as zich vergissen in iets. In the perfect tense, Dutch typically uses heb me vergist (I have mistaken myself / I was mistaken).

Usage notes: Common examples include ik heb me in de datum vergist (I was mistaken about the date) and hij heeft zich vergist in de cijfers (he misjudged the numbers). Dat was een vergissing (that was a mistake). Zich vergissen in iemand can mean misjudging someone. Vergissen contrasts with forgetfulness (vergeten) and with misunderstanding (misverstand); each has its own nuances and typical contexts.

In summary, vergissen centers on mistaken beliefs or judgments, with zich vergissen in as a key fixed construction, and vergissing as the noun for the error. It is a standard verb in both formal and everyday Dutch.