scheitern en 30 secondes
- Scheitern means 'to fail' in a significant, often final way.
- It always uses the auxiliary verb 'sein' (ist gescheitert).
- The construction 'scheitern an + Dativ' explains the cause of failure.
- It is more formal and serious than colloquial words like 'verpatzen'.
The German verb scheitern is a powerful and evocative term that translates primarily as 'to fail,' 'to fall through,' or 'to founder.' Unlike the English word 'fail,' which can be used for simple mistakes or failing a test (where Germans would prefer durchfallen), scheitern carries a weight of finality and often implies the total collapse of a project, a plan, or even a life's ambition. It originates from the noun das Scheit (a piece of wood or a log), and historically referred to a ship breaking into pieces—literally 'going to pieces' on the rocks. This nautical imagery remains buried in the word's DNA, suggesting a structural breakdown where something once whole is now fragmented and non-functional.
- Core Concept
- The total lack of success in an endeavor, often due to insurmountable obstacles or internal flaws.
- The Prepositional Link
- It is almost always paired with the preposition
anplus the dative case to indicate the cause of the failure. - Emotional Weight
- It suggests a significant effort that did not reach its goal, often carrying a sense of tragedy or profound disappointment.
"Viele große Träume scheitern an der harten Realität des Alltags, aber das bedeutet nicht, dass man aufhören sollte zu träumen."
In a modern context, you will encounter scheitern in news reports about political negotiations (Die Verhandlungen sind gescheitert), business ventures (Das Startup scheiterte am Kapitalmangel), and personal relationships (Ihre Ehe ist leider gescheitert). It is a verb of movement and change, which is why it takes the auxiliary verb sein in the perfect tense: Ich bin gescheitert. This grammatical choice emphasizes the state of having failed as a transformative event.
"Das Projekt ist letztendlich an der Finanzierung gescheitert."
"Wer nicht wagt, kann nicht scheitern, aber er kann auch nicht gewinnen."
Using scheitern correctly requires understanding its grammatical environment. As an intransitive verb, it does not take a direct object. You don't 'fail something' in German with this verb; rather, something 'fails' or you 'fail at' something. The most critical construction to master is scheitern an [+ Dativ]. This identifies the specific hurdle that caused the failure. For example, Er scheiterte an der letzten Hürde (He failed at the last hurdle).
- Tense Formation
- Present: er/sie/es scheitert
Präteritum: er/sie/es scheiterte
Perfekt: ist gescheitert - Abstract Usage
- It is frequently used with abstract nouns like Widerstand (resistance), Bürokratie (bureaucracy), or Angst (fear).
In professional German, scheitern is used to describe failed mergers, failed diplomatic missions, or failed experiments. It provides a formal tone. If you want to say a plan didn't work out in a more casual way, you might use schiefgehen or nicht klappen. However, scheitern adds a layer of seriousness. When a politician says 'Wir sind gescheitert,' it is a heavy admission of defeat.
You will encounter scheitern across various media and social strata in Germany. In the news (Tagesschau), it is a staple for reporting on political stalemates: 'Die Koalitionsverhandlungen sind gescheitert.' In business journals (Handelsblatt), it describes market exits or bankruptcies. In literature, it is a central theme of the human condition—the tragic hero who fails despite their best efforts.
- Politics: 'Die Reform scheiterte am Veto der Opposition.'
- Sports: 'Der Stürmer scheiterte am glänzenden Torwart.' (The striker failed [to score] because of the brilliant goalkeeper.)
- Personal Life: 'Viele Ehen scheitern im verflixten siebten Jahr.'
Interestingly, there is a growing 'Fehlerkultur' (error culture) in German startups where the phrase 'Scheitern als Chance' (Failure as an opportunity) is frequently used, echoing the Silicon Valley 'fail fast' mentality. This has slightly softened the traditionally harsh and shameful connotation of the word.
The most frequent mistake for English speakers is using the auxiliary haben instead of sein. Because 'to fail' doesn't necessarily imply movement in English, learners often say *Ich habe gescheitert. This is incorrect. Always remember: ist gescheitert.
Another mistake is confusing scheitern with durchfallen. Use durchfallen for exams, tests, or screenings. Use scheitern for the overall goal. If you fail a driving test, you fallen durch. If you never get your license because you are too nervous, you scheitern am Führerschein.
Thirdly, learners often forget the preposition an. You cannot say *Er scheiterte die Prüfung. You must say Er scheiterte an der Prüfung (though durchfallen is better there) or Der Plan scheiterte an der Umsetzung.
German has several words for failure, each with a specific nuance. Misslingen is the direct opposite of gelingen (to succeed) and is often used for tasks or recipes (Der Kuchen ist misslungen). Fehlschlagen is often used for plans or attempts that 'miss their mark' (Der Anschlag schlug fehl).
- Verpatzen
- To mess up or botch something (colloquial). Ich habe die Chance verpatzt.
- Untergehen
- To go under/sink. Used for businesses or civilizations. Die Firma ging unter.
- Stranden
- To be stranded/run aground. Used when a project stops moving forward.
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Perfekt mit sein
Verben mit Präpositionalobjekt
Dativ nach 'an'
Nominalisierung von Verben
Satzbau mit 'weil' und 'obwohl'
Exemples par niveau
Der Plan scheitert.
The plan fails.
Present tense, 3rd person singular.
Das ist gescheitert.
That has failed.
Perfekt with 'sein'.
Warum scheitert es?
Why is it failing?
Question form.
Mein Versuch scheitert.
My attempt is failing.
Subject + Verb.
Es scheitert oft.
It often fails.
Adverb 'oft' usage.
Wir scheitern nicht.
We are not failing.
Negation with 'nicht'.
Alles scheitert.
Everything is failing.
Indefinite pronoun 'alles'.
Der Test scheitert.
The test fails.
Simple noun subject.
Das Projekt ist an dem Geld gescheitert.
The project failed because of the money.
Usage of 'an' + Dativ.
Sie scheiterte an der schweren Aufgabe.
She failed at the difficult task.
Präteritum (simple past).
Wir sind leider gescheitert.
We have unfortunately failed.
Use of 'leider' for tone.
Der Kuchen ist gescheitert.
The cake failed (didn't turn out).
Colloquial use for recipes.
Es scheiterte an einer Kleinigkeit.
It failed because of a small thing.
Focus on the cause.
Die Reise scheiterte am Wetter.
The trip fell through because of the weather.
Noun 'Wetter' in dative.
Warum bist du gescheitert?
Why did you fail?
2nd person singular perfect.
Sein Plan scheiterte gestern.
His plan failed yesterday.
Time adverb 'gestern'.
Die Verhandlungen sind am Widerstand der Arbeiter gescheitert.
The negotiations failed due to the resistance of the workers.
Genitive attribute 'der Arbeiter'.
Ich bin an der Prüfung gescheitert, weil ich nicht gelernt habe.
I failed the exam because I didn't study.
Subordinate clause with 'weil'.
Oft scheitern gute Ideen an der Bürokratie.
Often good ideas fail because of bureaucracy.
General statement.
Die Ehe ist nach zehn Jahren gescheitert.
The marriage failed after ten years.
Temporal preposition 'nach'.
Er wollte Profi werden, aber er scheiterte an einer Verletzung.
He wanted to become a professional, but he failed due to an injury.
Contrast with 'aber'.
Das Gesetz scheiterte im Parlament.
The law failed in parliament.
Locational context.
Wir dürfen nicht an dieser Hürde scheitern.
We must not fail at this hurdle.
Modal verb 'dürfen'.
Ist die Mission wirklich gescheitert?
Has the mission really failed?
Adverb 'wirklich'.
Das Vorhaben ist kläglich an der mangelnden Kommunikation gescheitert.
The project failed miserably due to lack of communication.
Adverb 'kläglich' for emphasis.
Viele Startups scheitern bereits im ersten Jahr am Markt.
Many startups fail in the market as early as the first year.
Adverb 'bereits'.
Die Reform droht an den hohen Kosten zu scheitern.
The reform is in danger of failing due to high costs.
Construction 'drohen zu + Infinitiv'.
Sie scheiterte letztlich an ihrem eigenen Perfektionismus.
She ultimately failed due to her own perfectionism.
Reflexive possessive 'ihrem eigenen'.
Trotz aller Bemühungen ist der Rettungsversuch gescheitert.
Despite all efforts, the rescue attempt failed.
Preposition 'trotz' + Genitive.
Woran ist das Experiment gescheitert?
What did the experiment fail because of?
Pronominal adverb 'woran'.
Er scheiterte beim Versuch, den Weltrekord zu brechen.
He failed in the attempt to break the world record.
Preposition 'bei' + nominalized verb.
Das Abkommen scheiterte an politischen Differenzen.
The agreement failed due to political differences.
Plural dative 'Differenzen'.
Die diplomatischen Bemühungen scheiterten an der Unnachgiebigkeit beider Seiten.
Diplomatic efforts failed due to the intransigence of both sides.
Sophisticated noun 'Unnachgiebigkeit'.
Ein solches Unterfangen muss zwangsläufig an der Realität scheitern.
Such an undertaking must inevitably fail when faced with reality.
Adverb 'zwangsläufig'.
Er scheiterte grandios an der Aufgabe, sein Erbe zu verwalten.
He failed magnificently at the task of managing his inheritance.
Oxymoron 'grandios scheitern'.
Das Projekt scheiterte nicht am Können, sondern am Wollen.
The project didn't fail due to ability, but due to will.
Contrast 'nicht... sondern...'.
In seinem Roman thematisiert der Autor das Scheitern an gesellschaftlichen Normen.
In his novel, the author addresses the failure to meet social norms.
Nominalization 'das Scheitern'.
Die Fusion der beiden Großkonzerne ist am Veto des Kartellamts gescheitert.
The merger of the two major corporations failed due to the antitrust office's veto.
Technical business terminology.
Manche Menschen scheitern an der Last ihrer eigenen Vergangenheit.
Some people fail under the weight of their own past.
Metaphorical usage.
Das System scheiterte an seiner eigenen Komplexität.
The system failed due to its own complexity.
Abstract subject.
Das heroische Ideal scheitert in der Postmoderne an der Dekonstruktion des Subjekts.
The heroic ideal fails in postmodernity due to the deconstruction of the subject.
Academic/Philosophical register.
Sämtliche Vermittlungsversuche scheiterten kläglich an der Hybris der Akteure.
All mediation attempts failed miserably due to the hubris of the actors.
Elevated vocabulary 'Hybris'.
Es ist ein existenzielles Scheitern, das keine Hoffnung auf Katharsis lässt.
It is an existential failure that leaves no hope for catharsis.
Literary analysis.
Die Theorie scheitert in der Empirie an unvorhersehbaren Variablen.
The theory fails in empirical practice due to unpredictable variables.
Scientific register.
Napoleon scheiterte letztlich am russischen Winter und seiner eigenen Überdehnung.
Napoleon ultimately failed due to the Russian winter and his own overextension.
Historical context.
Oft scheitert die Sprache an der Unaussprechlichkeit des Traumas.
Language often fails in the face of the unspeakability of trauma.
Abstract/Poetic usage.
Das Vorhaben, den Weltgeist zu fassen, muss an der Endlichkeit des Denkens scheitern.
The endeavor to grasp the world-spirit must fail due to the finitude of thought.
Hegelian/Philosophical context.
Wer am Detail scheitert, verliert das Ganze aus den Augen.
He who fails at the detail loses sight of the whole.
Aphoristic structure.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Scheitern implies a total stop, not just a minor error.
Rarely used for minor daily mishaps; keep it for significant events.
- Using 'haben' as an auxiliary verb.
- Using 'scheitern' with an accusative object.
- Confusing it with 'durchfallen' for simple tests.
- Forgetting the 'an' when providing a reason.
- Using it for very trivial things like 'I failed to buy milk'.
Astuces
Auxiliary Verb
Always use 'sein'. 'Ich bin gescheitert' is correct. 'Ich habe gescheitert' is a common mistake.
Preposition
Remember 'an' + Dativ. It's the most natural way to explain the cause of failure.
Synonyms
Use 'misslingen' for things like cooking or small tasks, and 'scheitern' for life events.
Formal Tone
Scheitern is perfect for formal writing and news reports.
Fear of Failure
The phrase 'Angst vor dem Scheitern' is a very common German concept.
Shatter
Associate 'scheitern' with 'shatter'. A shattered plan is a failed plan.
News Keywords
If you hear 'gescheitert' in the news, look for the word 'an' to find out why.
Ask 'Woran?'
Ask 'Woran ist es gescheitert?' to sound like a native speaker when discussing problems.
Nominalization
Use 'Das Scheitern des Projekts' as a subject to sound more academic.
Finality
Use 'scheitern' when there is no going back. It's a very final word.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
From Middle High German 'schitern', meaning to break into pieces (Scheite). Originally used for ships breaking apart.
Contexte culturel
A failed business (Insolvenz) is often seen as a permanent stain, unlike in the US.
The German school system is high-pressure; 'Scheitern' at a Gymnasium can lead to a complete change in career path.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"Bist du schon mal an einer schwierigen Aufgabe gescheitert?"
"Warum scheitern so viele Neujahrsvorsätze?"
"Kann man aus dem Scheitern wirklich etwas lernen?"
"Ist das Projekt an der Finanzierung gescheitert?"
"Was passiert, wenn die Verhandlungen scheitern?"
Sujets d'écriture
Beschreibe eine Situation, in der du gescheitert bist. Was hast du gelernt?
Warum haben manche Menschen so große Angst vor dem Scheitern?
Kann eine Gesellschaft ohne Scheitern existieren?
Ist Scheitern eine notwendige Stufe zum Erfolg?
Reflektiere über ein Projekt, das an der Kommunikation gescheitert ist.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsTechnically yes, but 'durchfallen' is much more common. Use 'scheitern' if the exam failure ruins your whole career.
No, you can say 'Der Plan ist gescheitert' without a reason, but 'an' is used to explain why.
It is a regular (weak) verb: scheitern, scheiterte, ist gescheitert.
The noun is 'das Scheitern' (neuter).
No, it must be 'Ich scheitere AN der Prüfung' or 'Ich falle durch die Prüfung'.
Usually yes, but in modern contexts, it's often discussed as a learning experience.
It means 'doomed to fail'.
Yes, 'ein gescheiterter Mann' is a common expression for someone whose life hasn't gone well.
Yes, when a player fails to score because of the goalie: 'Er scheiterte am Torwart'.
The best opposite is 'gelingen' or 'Erfolg haben'.
Teste-toi 94 questions
/ 94 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Scheitern is the definitive German verb for significant failure. Whether in politics, business, or personal life, it describes the moment a plan hits an insurmountable wall (an etwas scheitern) and collapses completely.
- Scheitern means 'to fail' in a significant, often final way.
- It always uses the auxiliary verb 'sein' (ist gescheitert).
- The construction 'scheitern an + Dativ' explains the cause of failure.
- It is more formal and serious than colloquial words like 'verpatzen'.
Auxiliary Verb
Always use 'sein'. 'Ich bin gescheitert' is correct. 'Ich habe gescheitert' is a common mistake.
Preposition
Remember 'an' + Dativ. It's the most natural way to explain the cause of failure.
Synonyms
Use 'misslingen' for things like cooking or small tasks, and 'scheitern' for life events.
Formal Tone
Scheitern is perfect for formal writing and news reports.
Exemple
Der Versuch, den Gipfel zu erreichen, ist gescheitert.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur general
ab
A1À partir de; dès. 'À partir de demain, je commence.' (Ab morgen fange ich an.)
abends
A2Le soir / les soirs. 'Je lis le soir.'
aber
A1Le mot 'aber' signifie 'mais'. Il est utilisé pour introduire un contraste entre deux idées.
abgelegen
B1remote
ablehnen
A2Refuser une offre ou une invitation. Elle a décliné l'invitation poliment.
abschließen
A2Verrouiller une porte avec une clé. Terminer avec succès des études ou conclure un contrat.
abseits
A2Abseits veut dire que quelque chose est situé loin de la zone principale ou du chemin habituel.
acht
A1Le nombre huit (8).
Achte
A1Huitième (nombre ordinal).
achten
A2Faire attention à quelque chose (avec 'auf') ou respecter quelqu'un.
