German word

kaputt

Pronunciation

IPA/kaˈpʊt/

Meaning

  • adjectivebroken

Example

Mein kaputtes Handy funktioniert nicht.

My broken phone doesn't work.

Illustration for kaputt (broken)

More examples

Der Drucker ist völlig kaputt.

The printer is completely broken.

Core concept

Something is out of action, or someone is so drained that normal activity has stopped.

Common phrases

  • völlig kaputt

    completely broken

  • ein kaputtes Gerät

    a broken device

  • das kaputte Teil

    the broken part

Similar words

defekt: Not operating correctly because a machine or device has developed a fault.
beschädigt: Having physical damage to the outside or inside.
erschöpft: Extremely tired, with little strength or motivation left.
zerstört: Destroyed beyond use, with its former shape or function lost.

Definition in German

kaputt bedeutet, dass etwas durch Schaden oder Fehlfunktion nicht mehr funktioniert; im allgemeinen Sprachgebrauch kann es auch für sehr erschöpfte Personen verwendet werden.

Word origin

Kaputt entered German as a borrowing related to French capot and Italian cappotto, terms associated with defeat in card games, then broadened to mean ruined or unusable.

Usage tips

  • The usual expressions are kaputt sein for a state and kaputtgehen for something becoming unusable, while kaputtmachen means causing that result.

Other meanings

  • tiredadjective

Opposites

  • funktionstüchtigfunctionaladjective
  • unversehrtintactadjective

Word lists with this word