die  Pleite

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈplaɪtə/

💸 What does "die Pleite" mean?

Die Pleite (noun, feminine) is a colloquial German term for the state of insolvency or financial ruin of a person or a company. It's a synonym for Bankrott (bankruptcy) or Insolvenz (insolvency), but is often used in a private context when someone simply has no money left.

• Meaning 1: Financial collapse, bankruptcy (of a company or person). Example: Die Firma stand kurz vor der Pleite. (The company was on the verge of bankruptcy.)
• Meaning 2: The state of having no (more) money (of a private person). Often used adjectivally: "ich bin pleite". Example: Nach dem teuren Urlaub war ich pleite. (After the expensive vacation, I was broke.)
• Meaning 3 (less common, figurative): A failure, a fiasco. Example: Das Projekt war eine einzige Pleite. (The project was a complete flop/fiasco.)

🚨 Important: Although often used synonymously, Pleite is more colloquial than the official terms Insolvenz or Bankrott, especially in a business context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Pleite"

Pleite is a feminine noun. It's mostly used in the singular because it often describes a state or an event. The plural (die Pleiten) is possible but less common, referring to multiple instances of bankruptcy or failure.

Declension (Singular)

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Pleite des Unternehmens kam für viele überraschend. (The company's bankruptcy came as a surprise to many.)
2. Trotz der drohenden Pleite gab der Chef nicht auf. (Despite the impending bankruptcy, the boss didn't give up.)
3. Man konnte der Firma die nahende Pleite ansehen. (You could see the company's approaching bankruptcy.)
4. Er versuchte, die Pleite abzuwenden. (He tried to avert bankruptcy.)
5. Nach dem Casinobesuch war er komplett pleite. (After visiting the casino, he was completely broke.) - Note the colloquial adjectival use.

Note: The word pleite can also be used as an adjective (e.g., "ich bin pleite" - I am broke). In this case, it is not declined.

💡 How to use "die Pleite"?

Die Pleite is a common word in conversations about finances, both in business and private contexts. It carries a rather negative connotation.

• Context: Business news, discussions about corporate insolvency, private talks about lack of money.
• Colloquial Use: Especially the adjectival form "pleite sein" (to be broke) is very colloquial. "Ich bin pleite" means "I have no money".
• Idioms:
  • Pleite machen / gehen: To go bankrupt, to become insolvent. Example: Die Bäckerei musste letztes Jahr Pleite machen. (The bakery had to go bankrupt last year.)
  • Eine Pleite erleben: To experience a financial failure or, more generally, a flop. Example: Mit dieser Investition hat er eine böse Pleite erlebt. (He experienced a nasty failure with this investment.)
• Distinction: While Insolvenz is the formal legal term for the inability of a company to pay its debts, Pleite is more informal and can also refer to private individuals or even general failures.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Pleite"

Article Mnemonic: Think of bankruptcy as a femininely destructive force, like a disastrous diva. She (die) causes the Pleite. Many German feminine nouns end in -e, like die Pleite.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine your money is completely depleted - "depleted" sounds a bit like Pleite. When you're broke, your funds are depleted.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• die Peite: (Regional, dated) Misfortune, bad luck. Do not confuse with Pleite!

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der eine Unternehmer den anderen: "Wie schaffst du es, nachts ruhig zu schlafen, obwohl du kurz vor der Pleite stehst?"

Antwortet der andere: "Ganz einfach. Ich schlafe tagsüber!"

Translation:

One entrepreneur asks the other: "How do you manage to sleep peacefully at night, even though you're on the verge of bankruptcy?"

The other replies: "Simple. I sleep during the day!"

📜 Poem about Pleite

Das Konto leer, die Kasse klamm,
es trifft den Herrn, es trifft die Damm'.
Die Firma wankt, das Geld ist fort,
an diesem traurig' Finanzort.
Man nennt es Krise, Ruin, Bankrott,
doch umgangssprachlich, kurz und flott,
wenn nichts mehr geht und alles flieht,
man von der großen Pleite spricht.

Translation:

The account empty, the cash box tight,
Affecting master, affecting ma'am's plight.
The company falters, the money's gone,
At this sad financial dawn.
They call it crisis, ruin, bankrupt state,
But colloquially, quick and straight,
When nothing works and all takes flight,
They speak of the great Pleite (bankruptcy/being broke).

❓ Riddle

Ich bin das Ende mancher Reise,
im Geschäft auf leise Weise.
Mal treff' ich Firmen, mal privat,
wenn Geld fehlt für die nächste Tat.
Mein Name klingt ein bisschen flott,
doch bringe ich oft Spott.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I am the end of many a journey,
In business, in a quiet way.
Sometimes I hit companies, sometimes private,
When money's lacking for the next feat.
My name sounds a bit brisk,
But often I bring mockery's whisk.

What am I?

🧩 Other Information

Word Origin: The word Pleite likely originates from Rotwelsch (a German sociolect or cant) and traces back to the West Yiddish word plejte (פליטה), meaning 'flight' or 'escape'. The meaning transferred to 'fleeing' from creditors and eventually to the state of bankruptcy itself.

Prevalence: A very common word in German-speaking regions, including Austria and Switzerland.