01
die Pleite
bankruptcy
Colloquial term for the financial collapse or bankruptcy of a person or company.
example
Die Baufirma hat letztes Jahr Pleite gemacht.
The construction company went bankrupt last year.
die Pleite
bankruptcy / flop
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Colloquial word
'Pleite' (bankruptcy/flop) is a word used mainly in spoken language and informal situations. It is a very common everyday expression.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann nicht mit ins Kino, ich bin diesen Monat pleite.
I can't come to the cinema; I'm broke this month.
Fixed expressions
For financial collapse, 'Pleite' (bankruptcy) is almost always used in fixed expressions. The most common are 'Pleite gehen' (to go bankrupt), 'Pleite machen' (to go bankrupt), and 'Pleite sein' (to be bankrupt/broke).
EXAMPLE
Nachdem der Hauptkunde abgesprungen war, ist die Agentur Pleite gegangen.
After the main client backed out, the agency went bankrupt.
Describing failure
To describe a general failure, 'Pleite' (flop/failure) is often intensified with adjectives like 'total' (total), 'riesig' (huge), or 'glatt' (complete). It expresses major disappointment.
EXAMPLE
Die Party war eine totale Pleite, weil die Musik so schlecht war.
The party was a total flop because the music was so bad.
Compare with
Pleite vs Erfolg
success
'der Erfolg' and 'die Pleite' can be opposites when talking about the outcome of an action or a plan. 'Erfolg' means that you have achieved a goal. 'Pleite' is colloquial and means either a financial collapse or, more generally, a major failure. In serious or formal texts, 'Pleite' often sounds too casual. In everyday speech, however, people often use it when something did not work out at all.
Pleite
Der Ausflug wurde eine Pleite, weil der Zug ausfiel und es den ganzen Tag regnete.
The trip was a flop because the train was canceled and it rained all day.
Erfolg
Das Gespräch mit dem Kunden war ein Erfolg, weil er den Vertrag unterschrieben hat.
The conversation with the client was a success because he signed the contract.
In real life
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