verb
to break (become broken), to stop working
B1
Kaputtgehen means 'to break' or 'to stop working' (become broken). It's a separable, strong verb: gehen + kaputt; Präteritum: ging kaputt; Perfekt: ist kaputtgegangen (auxiliary sein). Intransitive (no patient passive). Imperatives: Geh nicht kaputt! Used for objects and sometimes informal situations. Common colloquial verb.
Examples
Das Radio ging kaputt, nachdem es während des Umzugs heruntergefallen war.
The radio broke after it had fallen during the move.
Mein Handy ist kaputtgegangen.
My phone broke.
Die Waschmaschine ist während des Programms kaputtgegangen und funktioniert nicht mehr.
The washing machine stopped working during the cycle and won't run anymore.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a toaster with a puff of smoke and the words 'kaputtgehen' rising as it fails.
Think 'kaput' (English) + 'go' — something goes kaput: it breaks.
Notes
kaputtgehen is intransitive (something becomes broken on its own or stops working). Use sein as the auxiliary in perfect tenses: ist kaputtgegangen. Passive voice is normally not used with intransitive verbs like this. | Intransitive verb; passive voice conjugations are not applicable.