How do you say Attempt or Experiment in German?

Trying to quit sugar? Launching a scientific breakthrough? Flirting with disaster? Germans use the same word for all of it: Versuch. It’s about trying, testing, and pushing the boundaries - of behavior, science, or willpower.

The noun Versuch means attempt, trial, or experiment, depending on context. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it plays a key role in everyday efforts, science labs, legal settings, and more.

It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Versuch.

Pronunciation

Versuch is pronounced [fer-ZOOKH].

• The “Ver” sounds like “fair,”
• The “such” sounds like “zookh” - a long u, then the throaty ch, as in Bach.

It has a firm, deliberate sound - just right for a word about effort and experimentation.

Example sentences:

• Der Versuch war erfolglos, aber lehrreich.The attempt was unsuccessful, but educational.
• Im Labor wurden mehrere Versuche durchgeführt.Several experiments were conducted in the lab.

Nuance and usage tips

Versuch has two major shades of meaning:

1. Attempt or effort
   • ein letzter Versuch - a last try
   • einen Versuch wagen - to take a shot / risk a try
     Es ist einen Versuch wert. - It’s worth a try.
     Versuch macht klug. - You learn by trying.
2. Scientific experiment or test
   • Tierversuch - animal experiment
   • Kontrollversuch - control test
   • Versuchsreihe - series of experiments
3. • Versuchung means temptation, including everyday temptation; Versuch normally means attempt or experiment.

Grammatical case examples: