durchfallen
to fail
To not pass an exam, test, or class.
EXAMPLE
Leider ist er bei der Fahrprüfung durchgefallen.
Unfortunately, he failed the driving test.
durchfallen
to fail / fall through
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Meanings
durchfallen
to fail
To not receive approval in a vote, evaluation, or from an audience and be rejected. Often refers to laws, proposals, or artistic performances.
EXAMPLE
Der Gesetzesentwurf ist im Parlament mit knapper Mehrheit durchgefallen.
The draft law failed in parliament by a narrow majority.
durchfallen
to fall through
To physically fall downward through an opening or an unstable surface.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, der alte Holzboden ist morsch, man könnte durchfallen!
Careful, the old wooden floor is rotten; someone could fall through!
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Durchfallen' (to fail / fall through) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'durch' goes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er fällt oft bei Prüfungen durch.
He often fails exams.
Auxiliary verb 'sein'
The perfect tense of 'durchfallen' (to fail / fall through) is always formed with 'sein' (to be), not with 'haben' (to have). This applies to all meanings of the word.
EXAMPLE
Ich bin letztes Mal leider durch die praktische Prüfung gefallen.
Unfortunately, I failed the practical exam last time.
Word logic
The literal meaning 'physisch durch etwas fallen' (to physically fall through something) helps you understand the figurative meanings. In an exam, you more or less 'fall' through the net of requirements.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, der Stuhl ist kaputt, nicht dass du durchfällst!
Watch out, the chair is broken—don't fall through it!
Correct preposition
When talking about an exam, you use the preposition 'bei' or 'in', followed by the dative. Both are correct.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist in der mündlichen Prüfung durchgefallen.
She failed the oral exam.
Usage pattern
In the meaning 'abgelehnt werden' (to be rejected), the preposition 'bei' + dative is often used to name the group that rejects something.
EXAMPLE
Der Vorschlag ist bei der Abstimmung im Team durchgefallen.
The proposal failed in the team vote.
Compare with
durchfallen vs ablehnen
to reject
With a suggestion, ablehnen can refer to the active decision made by a person or institution. Durchfallen, by contrast, describes a suggestion failing to receive enough support in a vote or evaluation. Use ablehnen when the rejecting person or institution is important, and durchfallen when the lack of agreement is the focus.
durchfallen
Der Vorschlag fiel in der Abstimmung durch.
The proposal failed in the vote.
ablehnen
Der Ausschuss lehnte den Vorschlag in der Sitzung ab.
The committee rejected the proposal during the meeting.
In real life
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