ausfallen
to be canceled
To not take place; to be canceled.
EXAMPLE
Wegen Krankheit des Lehrers fällt der Unterricht heute aus.
Because the teacher is sick, class is canceled today.
ausfallen
to be canceled / to fail
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Meanings
ausfallen
to fail
To stop functioning, usually because of a technical defect.
EXAMPLE
Gestern Abend ist bei uns im ganzen Viertel der Strom ausgefallen.
Yesterday evening, the power failed throughout our whole neighborhood.
ausfallen
to turn out
To have a certain result or a certain quality.
EXAMPLE
Die Ernte ist dieses Jahr aufgrund der Trockenheit schlecht ausgefallen.
The harvest turned out badly this year because of the drought.
ausfallen
to fall out
To come loose from the body and fall out, especially hair or teeth.
EXAMPLE
Seit der Krankheit fallen ihm die Haare aus.
Since the illness, his hair has been falling out.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Ausfallen' (to be canceled / to fail) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus-' goes at the end in main clauses; in subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug nach Berlin fällt heute aus.
The train to Berlin is canceled today.
Auxiliary verb 'sein'
The perfect tense of 'ausfallen' (to be canceled / to fail) is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), because it describes a change of state. So the form is 'ist ausgefallen' (has been canceled / has failed).
EXAMPLE
Die Heizung ist mitten im Winter ausgefallen.
The heating failed in the middle of winter.
Context clue
The context reveals the exact meaning. If the subject is an event or an appointment, it means 'not take place'. If the subject is a technical device or system, it means 'no longer function'.
EXAMPLE
Die morgige Vorlesung fällt aus.
Tomorrow's lecture is canceled.
Use with adverb
In the meaning 'to have a result', 'ausfallen' (to turn out) is almost always accompanied by an adverb or adjective that describes the quality of the result.
EXAMPLE
Der Test ist besser ausgefallen als erwartet.
The test turned out better than expected.
Dative construction
When hair or teeth fall out, the affected person is often named with a dative object. The subject of the sentence is the thing that falls out.
EXAMPLE
Dem alten Hund fallen langsam die Zähne aus.
The old dog's teeth are slowly falling out.
Compare with
hängengeratenhaarenversagenentfallenplatzenabstürzenstreikenwegfallenausbleibenabfallenstehenbleiben
ausfallen vs hängen
to hang
When talking about technology, hängen and ausfallen both mean that something is no longer working. Hängen is often used colloquially for a frozen or blocked state. Ausfallen is especially appropriate when a device stops working completely, usually because of a technical defect.
ausfallen
Der Bürocomputer ist wegen eines defekten Netzteils vollständig ausgefallen.
The office computer has completely failed because of a faulty power supply.
hängen
Der Bürocomputer hängt und reagiert nicht mehr auf die Maus.
The office computer has frozen and no longer responds to the mouse.
In real life
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