but see -los (-less)
The English word "lacking" can be expressed in German using mangelhaft. If unsure, use but see -los (-less).
Meaning: missing or not having enough of something (adj)
Ways to say it
| German |
|---|
| but see -los (-less) |
| mangelhaft |
mangelhaft is used to describe something that is missing or does not have enough of a specific quality. It is very frequently used in formal contexts, such as quality control or describing school grades, to mean that something is "defective" or "unsatisfactory".
What does it mean word for word?
The word mangelhaft is composed of Mangel (deficiency or lack) and the suffix -haft (having the quality of).
Which one should you use?
Use mangelhaft specifically when something is of poor quality or fails to meet a required standard. Do not use it if you are simply describing the absence of a specific item or ingredient.
Did you know?
- In the German school grading system, mangelhaft is the official term for the grade 5, which is the second worst possible grade.
- In German law, calling a product mangelhaft moves the conversation from a simple opinion to a formal claim regarding a 'material defect' and a breach of warranty.
- The word -los shares a common ancestor with the English word 'lose', meaning both words are distant cousins linked by the concept of being 'loose' or 'freed from'.
Examples in context
- In praktischer Hinsicht ist sein Plan mangelhaft.From a practical standpoint, his plan is lacking.The sentence is useful for showing how to describe a plan as being mangelhaft.Tatoeba #9702704 by Yorwba, translation #13837610 by JK_Summerlin
- Die Akte ist unvollständig, es sind einige Unterlagen fehlend.The file is incomplete, some documents are lacking.
- Die Party war gut, aber es hat an Musik gefehlt.The party was good, but it lacked music.
- Es mangelt an finanziellen Ressourcen, um das Projekt abzuschließen.There is a lack of financial resources to complete the project.
- Es fehlen noch ein paar Zutaten für das Rezept.A few ingredients are still missing for the recipe.
- Ihnen fehlt das notwendige Wissen, um diese Aufgabe zu erledigen.You lack the necessary knowledge to complete this task.
- Das Geld ist knapp diesen Monat.Money is scarce this month.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lacking” translations and entries mangelhaft, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries -los, mangelhaft, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
