Significado
To accidentally say or do something embarrassing or inappropriate.
Contexto cultural
In Germany, punctuality and privacy are key. Arriving late or asking personal questions about salary or politics is a guaranteed way to 'ins Fettnäpfchen treten'. Austrians value titles (like Magister or Doktor) highly. Forgetting to use a title when addressing someone can be a major Fettnäpfchen in formal settings. The Swiss value 'Bescheidenheit' (modesty). Bragging about your achievements is often seen as stepping into a Fettnäpfchen. Using 'Du' (informal you) before being offered it by a superior is a classic professional Fettnäpfchen in German-speaking countries.
Use 'Voll'
Add 'voll' (fully) to sound more native: 'Ich bin voll ins Fettnäpfchen getreten!'
Auxiliary Verb
Always use 'sein' (bin, bist, ist) with this phrase. Using 'haben' is the most common learner mistake.
Significado
To accidentally say or do something embarrassing or inappropriate.
Use 'Voll'
Add 'voll' (fully) to sound more native: 'Ich bin voll ins Fettnäpfchen getreten!'
Auxiliary Verb
Always use 'sein' (bin, bist, ist) with this phrase. Using 'haben' is the most common learner mistake.
Humor is Key
Using this phrase about yourself makes you look humble and self-aware, which Germans appreciate.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'treten' and the auxiliary verb.
Gestern ___ ich voll ins Fettnäpfchen ___.
The perfect tense of 'treten' (as a verb of movement) uses 'sein' (bin) and the past participle 'getreten'.
Which situation is a classic 'Fettnäpfchen'?
Wann tritt man ins Fettnäpfchen?
A Fettnäpfchen is a social gaffe, not a general mistake or a legal violation.
Match the German phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the idioms:
These are the standard translations for these variations.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Wie geht es deiner Frau?' B: 'Wir sind geschieden.' A: 'Oh nein, ___!'
This is the natural way to acknowledge a social gaffe in German.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosGestern ___ ich voll ins Fettnäpfchen ___.
The perfect tense of 'treten' (as a verb of movement) uses 'sein' (bin) and the past participle 'getreten'.
Wann tritt man ins Fettnäpfchen?
A Fettnäpfchen is a social gaffe, not a general mistake or a legal violation.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are the standard translations for these variations.
A: 'Wie geht es deiner Frau?' B: 'Wir sind geschieden.' A: 'Oh nein, ___!'
This is the natural way to acknowledge a social gaffe in German.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasHistorically, yes. It was a small bowl for fat. Today, it is almost exclusively used in this idiom.
Yes, it's very common in office culture to describe social slips.
The plural is 'die Fettnäpfchen'. You can say 'Er tritt in alle Fettnäpfchen'.
It's slightly critical but usually seen as a lighthearted way to point out a mistake.
German loves contractions. 'Ins' is the standard; 'in das' sounds like you are emphasizing the specific bowl.
No, it is always the noun phrase 'ins Fettnäpfchen treten'.
No, it's for social tact, not for crashing a car or failing an exam.
Usually yes, but it can be an action, like bringing meat to a vegan dinner party.
The origin is old, but the phrase is 100% modern and used every day.
Say: 'Entschuldigung, das war ein Fettnäpfchen. Das wollte ich nicht.'
Frases relacionadas
jemandem auf die Füße treten
similarTo offend someone (literally: to step on someone's feet).
sich verplappern
similarTo let a secret slip out.
den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen
contrastTo hit the nail on the head.
taktlos sein
synonymTo be tactless.
