German Conversation · Level 39
73 words
German word
fatal
Pronunciation
IPA/faˈtaːl/
Meaning
- adjectivedisastrous
Example
Das war eine fatale Entscheidung.
That was a disastrous decision.
More examples
Sein Irrtum war fatal für die Verhandlungen.
His error was disastrous for the negotiations.
Core concept
One wrong move sets off consequences so severe that recovery is no longer possible.
Common phrases
eine fatale Entscheidung
a disastrous decision
mit fatalen Folgen
with disastrous consequences
fatales Missverständnis
disastrous misunderstanding
Similar words
gefährlich: Likely to cause harm or damage through an accident or other danger.
tödlich: Causing death or posing an immediate threat to life.
schlimm: Having strongly harmful or undesirable effects.
katastrophal: Causing enormous damage, disruption, or ruin.
Definition in German
ein Adjektiv für Handlungen oder Ereignisse, die schwere, oft unwiderrufliche Folgen haben
Word origin
The adjective entered German as a learned borrowing from Latin fatalis, which refers to what is determined by fate or brings a fateful outcome.
Usage tips
- English fatal usually highlights death, while German fatal also commonly means disastrous or gravely damaging without involving death.
Other meanings
- fataladjective
Opposites
- harmlosharmlessadjective
- glimpflichminoradjective
Related words
- Fatalitätfatalitynoun
- fatalerweisefatallyadverb
- fatalistischfatalisticadjective