pleite
Meaning and Usage
"Pleite" in German can be used to mean "broke" or "bankrupt" when referring to a person or a business. It can also be used informally to express being penniless or financially strained.
Linguistic Analysis
The word "pleite" has no distinct prefix or suffix. It originates from the Middle Low German word "plėten," which means "to become flat" or "to fail."
Comparisons between German and English
The German word "pleite" has a direct counterpart in English, "broke" or "bankrupt."
Cultural Context
In German-speaking countries, the term "pleite" is commonly used to describe someone's financial struggles or the insolvency of a business.
Example Sentences
- Er ist pleite gegangen. (He went bankrupt.)
- Ich bin diesen Monat pleite. (I'm broke this month.)
Memory Tips
Associate "pleite" with the feeling of being "flat broke" to remember its meaning.
Additional Vocabulary
- bankrott (bankrupt)
- arm (poor)
- die Insolvenz (insolvency)
- die Geldprobleme (financial problems)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
N/A
Conjugation (for verbs)
N/A