How to Say ‘The device is broken.’ in German
Das Gerät ist kaputt.
dahs guh-RAIT ist kah-PUHT
[dahs guh-RAIT ist kah-PUHT]
🇩🇪 In Germany: If a driver says the card machine is broken, people often accept it and move straight to alternatives like cash, transfer, or PayPal. Whether that's genuine or not, arguing about the machine itself usually doesn't get you far on the spot.
Phrase Breakdown
Das Gerät
dahs guh-RAIT
the device / machine
The noun phrase referring to the item being discussed.
Das Gerät funktioniert nicht.
The device does not work.
Words in this phrase
Das
[dahs]
the / that
Neuter article used with "Gerät."
Das Gerät ist im Taxi schon den ganzen Tag defekt.
The device in the taxi has been defective all day.
Gerät
[guh-RAIT]
device
Refers here to the payment terminal in the taxi.
Das Gerät für die Kartenzahlung geht nicht.
The device for card payment does not work.
Ist kaputt
ist kah-PUHT
is broken
Common everyday phrase meaning something is damaged or not working.
Mein Handy ist kaputt.
My phone is broken.
Words in this phrase
ist
[ist]
is
Present tense of "sein," used to describe a state.
Das Kartenlesegerät ist leider offline.
The card reader is unfortunately offline.
kaputt
[kah-PUHT]
broken
Means not functioning or defective.
Der Fahrer sagt, das Gerät sei kaputt.
The driver says the device is broken.
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