kaputtgehen

Kaputtgehen is a German verb meaning to go from a functioning state to being broken or unusable, and by extension to fail or collapse. It is used literally for objects that break or stop working and figuratively for plans, systems, or processes that fail. For example, Die Lampe geht kaputt means the lamp is breaking or has broken.

In terms of grammar, kaputtgehen is an intransitive verb that behaves like a separable verb in ordinary speech. In the present tense you typically say etwas geht kaputt or Die Waschmaschine geht kaputt. In the perfect tense you use the auxiliary sein and the past participle kaputtgegangen: Die Lampe ist kaputtgegangen.

Etymology and usage notes: kaputt means damaged or broken, and gehen means to go. The exact origin of kaputt as a standalone word is uncertain, but it has been part of colloquial German for a long time. The combination kaputtgehen thus expresses a process of breaking down or failing. The expression can be used for tangible objects (devices, machinery, doors) as well as for abstract things such as plans, negotiations, or relationships. In everyday language it is common and broadly understood, though in more formal or precise contexts speakers may prefer alternatives such as zerbrechen, scheitern, or scheitern to convey failure with different nuances.

Examples: Das Smartphone ist kaputtgegangen. Die Uhr geht kaputt. Unsere Pläne sind kaputtgegangen. Die Verhandlungen gehen kaputt, wenn keine Einigung erzielt wird. This verb remains particularly common in spoken German and informal writing.