Learn schaffen vs gelingen in German. Build fluency with personalized exercises, chats, and video recommendations.
schaffen and gelingen both relate to success but differ in usage:
schaffen = to manage, to succeed in doing something (often with the implication of overcoming a challenge). Can also mean to create or to make something.
Ich habe es geschafft. = I did it / I managed.Wir schaffen das. = We'll manage.gelingen = to succeed (used impersonally with es as the subject)
Das hat nicht geklappt. = That didn’t work. / That didn’t succeed.Es ist mir gelungen. = I succeeded / I was successful.Related Topics: Past tense, Managing success, Common Verbs