German Conversation · Level 41
72 words
German word
scheitern
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʃaɪ̯tɐn/
Meaning
- verbfail
Example
Das Projekt scheiterte.
The project failed.
More examples
Bei einer Prüfung scheiterte sie.
She failed an exam.
Core concept
A structure gives way before completion, so the intended result never becomes reality.
Common phrases
an etwas scheitern
fail at ___
bei einer Prüfung scheitern
fail an exam
an einem Plan scheitern
fail with a plan
Similar words
fehlschlagen: Fail to achieve the result expected from an attempt or plan.
misslingen: Not succeed in accomplishing something that was attempted.
versagen: Fail to carry out a required function or task.
Definition in German
Nicht erfolgreich sein; ein Vorhaben oder Plan erreicht sein Ziel nicht.
Word origin
The verb comes from Middle High German scheitern and is associated with an older idea of breaking apart, which developed into the sense of an undertaking failing.
Usage tips
- Scheitern is an intransitive verb and normally forms the perfect with sein: Das Projekt ist gescheitert.
Other meanings
- founderverb
- fall throughverb
Opposites
- gelingensucceedverb
Related words
- das Scheiternfailurenoun
- gescheitertfailedadjective