Vocabulary
kaputt
/kaˈpʊt/· adjective
broken; worn out
Everyday German for anything that doesn't work — and for how you feel after a long trip.
CEFR A1Frequency ●●●●●
Your memory
New
Learning
Familiar
Strong
Mastered
Forms
- keine Steigerung
- not compared in standard German — intensify with total / völlig kaputt
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
kaputt
broken, not working (object)
Die Lampe neben dem Bett ist kaputt.
The lamp next to the bed is broken.
Word family
kaputtkaputtgehento break (by itself)kaputtmachento break somethingsich kaputtlachento laugh one's head off
Common combinations
- kaputtgehento break, stop working
- total kaputt seinto be completely broken / exhausted
- etwas kaputtmachento break something
Similar & opposite
≈ Synonyms
defekt (formal)erschöpft (person)
↔ Opposites
ganz (colloq.)heilintakt
Common learner mistakes
- Wir haben eine kaputt Lampe im Zimmer.Wir haben eine kaputte Lampe im Zimmer.Before a noun kaputt takes the normal adjective endings: eine kaputte Lampe.
Real examples
- Der Fernseher im Zimmer ist kaputt.The TV in the room is broken.
- Nach dem langen Flug war ich total kaputt.After the long flight I was completely shattered.
- Die Dusche ist schon wieder kaputt!The shower is broken again!
