German word

ausfallen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯sˌfalən/

Meaning

  • verbbe canceled

Example

Der Flug fällt wegen Nebels aus.

The flight is canceled because of fog.

Illustration for ausfallen (be canceled)

More examples

Bei Gewitter fällt oft das Internet aus.

During a thunderstorm, the internet often goes down.

Core concept

A planned event drops out of the program, while a device or process can also drop out of normal operation.

Common phrases

  • Internet fällt aus

    Internet goes down

  • Telefonverbindung fällt aus

    Phone connection cuts out

  • Sendung fällt aus

    Broadcast is canceled

Similar words

absagen: Call off a planned event or commitment by deliberate decision.
entfallen: Be removed from the schedule and not carried out.
ausbleiben: Not arrive or happen when expected.

Definition in German

Nicht stattfinden; eine angekündigte Veranstaltung oder ein Termin findet aus verschiedenen Gründen nicht statt.

Word origin

The verb is a compound of aus- ('out') and fallen ('fall'), whose concrete idea of falling out developed into failure, non-occurrence, and other result-related senses.

Usage tips

  • The prefix is separable in main clauses: Die Veranstaltung fällt aus, but it remains attached after a modal: Die Veranstaltung muss ausfallen.

Other meanings

  • break downverb
  • fall outverb
  • turn outverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word