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” rhymes with “book,” but with a soft ch at the end, like clearing your throat very gently (made at the back of the mouth).
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 three major shades of meaning:
- Attempt or effort
- ein letzter Versuch – a last try
- einen Versuch wagen – to take a shot / risk a try
- Scientific experiment or test
- Tierversuch – animal experiment
- Kontrollversuch – control test
- Versuchsreihe – series of experiments
- Temptation (older/literary/Christian use)
- Versuchung is more common here today, but Versuch can still mean “temptation” in theological contexts
- der Versuch des Bösen – the temptation of evil
Its antonym depends on the context:
- For attempt: Verzicht (masculine, der Verzicht) – renunciation / giving up
- For success or result: Erfolg (masculine, der Erfolg) – success
Grammatical case examples:
- Nominative:
Der Versuch war ein voller Erfolg.
The attempt was a complete success. - Accusative:
Ich starte einen neuen Versuch.
I’m making a new attempt. - Dative:
Mit dem Versuch begann die Entdeckung.
With the experiment began the discovery. - Genitive:
Wegen des Versuchs wurde er belohnt.
Because of the attempt, he was rewarded.
Masculine article pattern: der, den, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Variation Station:
- versuchen – to try, to attempt
- Versuchung – temptation (especially in religious or poetic contexts)
- Tierversuch – animal test
- Versuchsanordnung – experimental setup
- Versuchsreihe – test series
Cultural note: In the German criminal code, Versuch also refers to an attempted crime:
- versuchter Diebstahl – attempted theft
- ein strafbarer Versuch – a punishable attempt
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Versuch
🎥 Learn Versuch and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:
https://deutschable.com/nouns/
Ready for two more German words of the day? How about Wetter or Wirkung?