English–German

“unsuccessful” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈfɔlkloːs/

Example

Er machte einen erfolgslosen Versuch.

He made an unsuccessful attempt.

Illustration for erfolglos (unsuccessful)

How to say “unsuccessful” in German

“Unsuccessful” in German is erfolglos.

A carefully prepared attempt produces nothing that moves the goal forward.

Full entry for erfolglos: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with erfolglos

Das Team blieb trotz Bemühungen erfolglos.

The team remained unsuccessful despite its efforts.

Tips for using erfolglos

  • Erfolglos commonly describes attempts, searches, negotiations, or projects, while vergeblich more specifically emphasizes a futile effort.

“unsuccessful” in other languages