German word

Debakel

Pronunciation

IPA/deˈbaːkəl/

Meaning

  • neuter nounfiasco

Example

Das Debakel gestern überraschte alle.

Yesterday's fiasco surprised everyone.

Illustration for Debakel (fiasco)

More examples

Dank schneller Entscheidungen konnten sie ein Debakel abwenden.

Thanks to quick decisions, they were able to avert a fiasco.

Core concept

A carefully planned undertaking suddenly falls apart from end to end.

Common phrases

  • vor einem Debakel stehen

    face a fiasco

  • ein Debakel abwenden

    avert a fiasco

Similar words

Fiasko: A major public failure that damages the reputation of those involved.
Niederlage: Defeat in a contest, election, or other competition.

Definition in German

Ein großer, oft unerwarteter Misserfolg, der Pläne oder Unternehmungen vollständig zum Scheitern bringt.

Word origin

German Debakel was borrowed from French debacle, originally describing the breaking up of ice or a dam and the resulting flood, then a large collapse or failure.

Usage tips

  • Debakel is a neuter noun, so the standard form is das Debakel, with the same spelling for its plural.

Other meanings

  • defeatnoun
  • disasternoun
  • collapsenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word