German word

gelingen

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈlɪŋən/

Meaning

  • verbsucceed

Example

Das Essen ist gelungen.

The food turned out well.

Illustration for gelingen (succeed)

More examples

Es gelingt mir, das Problem schnell zu lösen.

I succeed in solving the problem quickly.

Core concept

A dish or plan reaches the intended result and comes out right.

Common phrases

  • jemandem gelingt etwas

    Something works out for someone

  • Es gelingt jemandem, etwas zu tun

    Someone succeeds in doing something

Similar words

klappen: Go smoothly and end well in everyday speech.
funktionieren: Function properly and do what it is meant to do.
schaffen: Accomplish a goal through determined effort.

Definition in German

Ein Verb, das aussagt, dass ein Vorhaben, ein Ereignis oder ein Ergebnis erfolgreich zustande kommt.

Word origin

German gelingen is an inherited Germanic verb recorded as Middle High German gelingen and Old High German gilingan.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English succeed, gelingen commonly makes the project the subject and the person the dative: Der Versuch ist ihr gelungen.

Other meanings

  • work outverb
  • turn out wellverb

Opposites

Related words

  • gelungensuccessfuladjective

Word lists with this word