ausgefallen
unusual
Unusual, extravagant, original, or not everyday.
EXAMPLE
Zu ihrem Geburtstag wünscht sie sich ein wirklich ausgefallenes Geschenk.
For her birthday, she wants a really unusual gift.
ausgefallen
unusual / canceled
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Meanings
ausgefallen
canceled
Canceled; not taking place. Past participle of the verb 'ausfallen' (to be canceled / to fail), used as an adjective.
EXAMPLE
Wegen Krankheit des Lehrers ist der für heute geplante Unterricht ausgefallen.
Because the teacher is ill, the class planned for today has been canceled.
Usage tips
Origin of the word
'Ausgefallen' (unusual / canceled) is the past participle of the separable verb 'ausfallen' (to be canceled / to fail). The two very different meanings of the adjective come directly from the meanings of the verb: something 'fällt aus' (is canceled / does not take place) or 'fällt aus dem Rahmen' (stands out / is unusual).
EXAMPLE
Morgen fällt die erste Stunde aus.
Tomorrow the first class is canceled.
Context clue: sentence position
You can often recognize the meaning from the position in the sentence. If 'ausgefallen' comes before a noun, it means 'unusual'. If it stands alone after the verb, usually 'sein' (to be), it means 'canceled'.
EXAMPLE
Er hat einen sehr ausgefallenen Modegeschmack.
He has a very unusual fashion sense.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'unusual', 'ausgefallen' often describes things such as: 'ein ausgefallenes Geschenk' (an unusual gift), 'ein ausgefallenes Hobby' (an unusual hobby), 'ausgefallene Kleidung' (unusual clothing), or 'ein ausgefallenes Design' (an unusual design).
EXAMPLE
Sie sucht ein ausgefallenes Restaurant für ihren Geburtstag.
She is looking for an unusual restaurant for her birthday.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'canceled', the word is used for appointments and events. Typically, 'der Unterricht' (class), 'ein Zug' (a train), 'eine Veranstaltung' (an event), 'ein Flug' (a flight), or 'der Strom' (the power) can be 'ausgefallen' (canceled / out / failed).
EXAMPLE
Wegen des Sturms ist gestern Abend der Strom ausgefallen.
Because of the storm, the power went out yesterday evening.
Compare with
ausgefallen vs down
down
For a server, down describes its current state: it is not functioning or cannot be reached. ausgefallen more clearly indicates a technical failure as the cause. If only the current state matters, down is appropriate; if the problem itself should be emphasized, ausgefallen is appropriate.
ausgefallen
Der Server ist wegen eines technischen Defekts ausgefallen und deshalb nicht erreichbar.
The server has failed because of a technical defect and therefore cannot be reached.
down
Der Server ist gerade down und deshalb nicht erreichbar.
The server is currently down and therefore cannot be reached.
In real life
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