das  Fiasko

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fiˈasko/

💥 What exactly is a Fiasko?

The German word das Fiasko (noun, neuter) describes a complete failure, a miserable flop, or a disastrous outcome. It's used when a plan, event, or situation goes completely wrong and ends in disaster.

There is only one article for this word: das. It carries a very negative connotation.

• Meaning: Total failure, disaster, flop.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'das Fiasko' in Detail

Das Fiasko is a noun of the neuter gender. It is declined as follows:

⚠️ The plural die Fiaskos is rarely used, but grammatically correct.

Example Sentences

1. Die Präsentation endete in einem Fiasko. (The presentation ended in a fiasco.)
2. Trotz aller Planung erlebte das Projekt ein Fiasko. (Despite all the planning, the project experienced a fiasco.)
3. Wir müssen aus diesem Fiasko lernen. (We must learn from this fiasco.)
4. Das Fiasko der letzten Party ist noch allen in Erinnerung. (Everyone still remembers the fiasco of the last party.)

💡 When to use 'Fiasko'?

Das Fiasko is mostly used colloquially or in informal to semi-formal contexts to describe a particularly bad failure. It often dramatically emphasizes the extent of the failure.

• Typical Contexts: Projekte (projects), Veranstaltungen (events like parties, concerts, performances), politische Entscheidungen (political decisions), persönliche Unternehmungen (personal ventures).
• Comparison: Similar to Debakel (debacle) or Katastrophe (catastrophe), but Fiasko often implies an element of embarrassment or ridiculousness in the failure. Misserfolg (failure) is more neutral. Reinfall (flop) is also a colloquial term for failure.
• Example Phrases: "etwas endet im Fiasko" (something ends in a fiasco), "ein Fiasko erleben" (to experience a fiasco), "vor einem Fiasko stehen" (to be facing a fiasco).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of 'das Desaster' (the disaster). Like 'das Desaster', 'das Fiasko' is neuter and describes something bad.

Meaning Mnemonic: Fiasko sounds very similar to the English word 'fiasco'. They share the same meaning of a complete failure.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of Fiasko

Caution: Don't confuse Fiasko with Fiskus (the tax authorities).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Bäcker beim Kuchenwettbewerb verloren?
(Why did the baker lose the cake competition?)
Seine Torte war ein totales Fiasko – sie ist einfach zusammengefallen und hat eher wie ein Pfannkuchen ausgesehen!
(His cake was a total fiasco – it just collapsed and looked more like a pancake!)

📜 Poem about Failure

Der Plan war kühn, das Ziel war klar,
(The plan was bold, the goal was clear,)
doch nichts lief gut, es wurde wahr:
(But nothing went well, it became true:)
Ein Fehler hier, ein Stolpern dort,
(A mistake here, a stumble there,)
am Ende stand nur ein Wort:
(In the end, there was only one word:)
Fiasko, groß und unumwunden,
(Fiasco, large and blatant,)
die Hoffnung schnell verschwunden.
(Hope quickly disappeared.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin das Ende mancher Müh,
(I am the end of much effort,)
tret' ein, wenn alles geht entzwei.
(I appear when everything falls apart.)
Kein Erfolg, nur Pleite, Pech und Spott,
(No success, just failure, bad luck, and mockery,)
ich mach' den Plan zunicht', sofort.
(I destroy the plan immediately.)
Mit 'das' steh ich im Wörterbuch,
(With 'das' I stand in the dictionary,)
ein Scheitern auf dem ganzen Strich.
(A failure across the board.)

What am I? → Das Fiasko

🧩 Other Information

Etymology: The word Fiasko comes from the Italian fiasco, which originally means "flask" or "bottle". The figurative meaning "failure" possibly originates from theater jargon (a failed performance) or from an error in glassblowing that resulted in only an ordinary bottle instead of a piece of art.