verb
to be canceled, to break down, to turn out (to have a result)
B1
Has several senses: 'to be canceled' (an event), 'to break down' (machine fails), and 'to turn out' (result). Separable verb (aus-fallen), strong/irregular (stem vowel a→ä in present: du fällst, er fällt). Uses sein in perfect: ich bin ausgefallen. Intransitive; participle ausgefallen.
Examples
Der Unterricht fiel aus, weil der Lehrer plötzlich erkrankte, sodass die Schüler nach Hause geschickt wurden.
Classes were cancelled because the teacher suddenly fell ill, so the students were sent home.
Der Zug fiel gestern aus.
The train was cancelled yesterday.
Das alte Radio fällt oft aus, wenn es zu heiß wird.
The old radio often breaks down when it gets too hot.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a row of light bulbs; one by one they 'fall out' (go off) — the event or device stops, so it is cancelled or breaks down
sounds a bit like 'ouse-fall-in' — imagine something falling out of the house (it stops happening)
Notes
ausfallen is a separable, intransitive verb often used with the auxiliary 'sein' in perfect tenses (e.g., 'ist ausgefallen'). Common uses: events that are canceled, devices that fail/break down, and results (turn out). Be careful: as a separable verb the prefix 'aus' separates in main clauses (e.g., 'Das Radio fällt aus'). | Intransitive verb; passive voice conjugations are not applicable.