der  Fehlschlag

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfeːlʃlaːk/

🎯 What does "der Fehlschlag" mean?

The German word der Fehlschlag (noun, masculine) refers to an event or action that does not achieve the desired or expected result. It signifies a failure, a miss, a setback, or an unsuccessful attempt.

It can apply to various areas, e.g., a failed project (ein gescheitertes Projekt), a missed shot (ein verfehlter Schuss), or an unsuccessful operation (eine fehlgeschlagene Operation).

🚨 The word only takes the article der.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Fehlschlag

"Fehlschlag" is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Der erste Versuch war leider ein Fehlschlag. (Unfortunately, the first attempt was a failure.)
• Trotz des Fehlschlages geben wir nicht auf. (Despite the setback, we are not giving up.)
• Nach diesem Fehlschlag müssen wir unsere Strategie ändern. (After this failure, we need to change our strategy.)
• Er musste einen schweren Fehlschlag einstecken. (He had to suffer a heavy setback/failure.)
• Aus diesen Fehlschlägen haben wir viel gelernt. (We learned a lot from these failures.)

💡 When to use "Fehlschlag"?

"Fehlschlag" is used to describe the non-achievement of a goal or the failure of an effort.

• Projects & Plans: "Der Start des neuen Produkts war ein finanzieller Fehlschlag." (The launch of the new product was a financial failure.)
• Attempts & Experiments: "Nach mehreren Fehlschlägen gelang das Experiment endlich." (After several failures/failed attempts, the experiment finally succeeded.)
• Sports & Competition: "Sein Elfmeter war ein klarer Fehlschlag." (His penalty kick was a clear miss/failure. Often also "Fehlschuss" for a missed shot.)
• General Failure: "Er betrachtete seine frühe Karriere als einen einzigen Fehlschlag." (He considered his early career a complete failure.)

Distinction from similar words:

• Misserfolg: Very similar and often interchangeable with Fehlschlag, perhaps slightly more general for 'failure' or 'lack of success'.
• Scheitern: Often refers to the process of failing or the final outcome ('failure').
• Reinfall: Colloquial term for a big failure or disappointment ('flop', 'dud').
• Pleite: Specifically in a financial/business context ('bankruptcy', 'insolvency').

"Fehlschlag" often emphasizes the discrepancy between intention/plan and the actual negative result.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

1. Article Mnemonic (der): Think of a strong Schlag (hit, blow - masculine in German imagery), but one that goes fehl (amiss, wrong). A masculine, misdirected hit -> der Fehlschlag.
2. Meaning Mnemonic (Failure): Imagine you try to hit a nail (Schlag) but you miss (fehl). The result is a Fehlschlag – a failure.

"When the hit (Schlag) goes wrong (fehl), it's der Fehlschlag you feel."

🔄 Opposites and Similar Words: Fehlschlag

⚠️ Caution: "Fehltritt" (misstep) usually refers to a moral or social mistake, not the failure of a plan.

😂 A Little Joke

DE: Warum nehmen Computer nie Rache für einen Fehlschlag?
Weil sie keine Festplatte für Groll haben!

EN: Why do computers never take revenge for a failure (Fehlschlag)?
Because they don't have a hard drive (Festplatte) for grudges (Groll)! (Pun involving Festplatte sounding like a place to store things like grudges)

📜 Poem about Failure

DE:
Ein Plan geschmiedet, kühn und groß,
Doch das Ergebnis? Hoffnungslos.
Ein falscher Schritt, ein Schlag, der fehlt,
Der Fehlschlag hat sich eingestellt.
Doch aus dem Staub, man lernt und wacht,
Wird neuer Mut entfacht.

EN:
A plan was forged, bold and grand,
But the result? Out of hand.
A wrong step taken, a blow that missed,
The failure (der Fehlschlag) now exists.
But from the dust, one learns and wakes,
New courage undertaken makes.

❓ Riddle

DE:
Ich bin das Ziel, das man verfehlt,
Der Plan, der jäh zerschellt.
Ich bin der Schuss, der nicht ins Schwarze traf,
Ein Misserfolg, oft bitter, brav.

Was bin ich, maskulin und klar?

EN:
I am the target that is missed,
The plan that suddenly hasn't kissed
Success. I'm the shot that missed the mark,
A failure, often bitter, stark.

What am I, masculine and clear?
(... Der Fehlschlag / Failure)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Fehlschlag" is a compound noun, composed of:

• fehl-: This prefixoid means 'wrong', 'amiss', 'incorrectly', 'in vain'. It comes from the adjective/adverb "fehl".
• der Schlag: Means 'hit', 'blow', 'strike', but also figuratively 'event', 'attempt'.

So, a "Fehlschlag" is literally a "hit that goes wrong" or an "attempt that goes amiss/fails".