Erwartungen erfüllen
To meet expectations
Literally: Expectations to fulfill
Use this phrase to confirm that a person, product, or experience lived up to its promise.
In 15 Seconds
- Used when reality matches your prior hopes or standards.
- Common in business reviews, product feedback, and personal relationships.
- Neutral formality makes it safe for almost any situation.
Meaning
This phrase is used when something or someone turns out exactly as hoped or planned. It is the satisfying moment when reality matches the picture in your head.
Key Examples
3 of 6Reviewing a new gadget
Das neue Smartphone hat meine Erwartungen voll erfüllt.
The new smartphone fully met my expectations.
A boss talking to an employee
Sie haben unsere Erwartungen in diesem Quartal erfüllt.
You have met our expectations this quarter.
Texting a friend about a concert
Die Band war super und hat alle Erwartungen erfüllt!
The band was great and met all expectations!
Cultural Background
In German culture, 'Pünktlichkeit' (punctuality) and 'Qualität' (quality) are not just stereotypes; they are expectations. Fulfilling these is considered the bare minimum for professional respect. The phrase gained massive popularity in the post-war 'Wirtschaftswunder' era when German manufacturing standards became a global benchmark.
The 'Voll' Trick
Add 'voll' or 'ganz' before 'erfüllt' to sound more like a native. It turns 'met expectations' into 'totally met expectations'.
Don't confuse with 'warten'
Even though 'Erwartung' looks like 'warten' (to wait), it's about 'erwarten' (to expect). Don't use it to say you waited for someone!
In 15 Seconds
- Used when reality matches your prior hopes or standards.
- Common in business reviews, product feedback, and personal relationships.
- Neutral formality makes it safe for almost any situation.
What It Means
Imagine you order a pizza. You expect it to be hot, cheesy, and delicious. When it arrives exactly like that, it has Erwartungen erfüllt. It is about the bridge between a promise and the result. It is a very satisfying phrase to use when things go right.
How To Use It
You will mostly see this as a verb-noun combo. In a standard sentence, erfüllen goes to the end. For example: Das Hotel hat meine Erwartungen erfüllt. You can also use it to talk about people. If a new colleague is doing a great job, they are fulfilling expectations. It is a very versatile tool for your German kit.
When To Use It
Use this in professional performance reviews. Use it when you are texting a friend about a new movie. It is perfect for product reviews on Amazon. You can even use it when talking about a first date. If the person was as funny as their profile said, they met your expectations. It is a great way to give feedback.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this for tiny, everyday tasks. You wouldn't say your friend Erwartungen erfüllt just by showing up for coffee. That sounds a bit like a robot wrote it. Also, do not use it for things that are purely accidental. It implies there was a standard set beforehand. If you find a 20-euro note on the street, that is luck, not an expectation fulfilled.
Cultural Background
Germans are known for being precise and valuing quality. In Germany, meeting a standard is seen as a sign of respect and reliability. There is a cultural concept called Verlässlichkeit (reliability). If you say you will do something, doing it is the baseline. Fulfilling expectations is the foundation of trust in German business and social life.
Common Variations
If something is even better than expected, use Erwartungen übertreffen. If it was a total disaster, use Erwartungen enttäuschen. In very formal settings, you might hear den Erwartungen gerecht werden. This means "to do justice to the expectations." It sounds a bit more sophisticated and humble.
Usage Notes
The phrase is safe to use in both professional and casual settings. Just remember that 'erfüllen' is a weak verb (erfüllte, hat erfüllt).
The 'Voll' Trick
Add 'voll' or 'ganz' before 'erfüllt' to sound more like a native. It turns 'met expectations' into 'totally met expectations'.
Don't confuse with 'warten'
Even though 'Erwartung' looks like 'warten' (to wait), it's about 'erwarten' (to expect). Don't use it to say you waited for someone!
The German 'Okay'
In Germany, if someone says 'Es hat meine Erwartungen erfüllt', it is actually a very good thing. It's not just 'okay'—it means you did exactly what was promised.
Examples
6Das neue Smartphone hat meine Erwartungen voll erfüllt.
The new smartphone fully met my expectations.
Using 'voll' (fully) adds extra emphasis to your satisfaction.
Sie haben unsere Erwartungen in diesem Quartal erfüllt.
You have met our expectations this quarter.
In a professional context, this is a solid, positive performance indicator.
Die Band war super und hat alle Erwartungen erfüllt!
The band was great and met all expectations!
Short and punchy for a quick update.
Er hat meine Erwartungen erfüllt: Er war genauso langweilig wie auf Tinder.
He met my expectations: He was just as boring as on Tinder.
Using the phrase sarcastically to confirm a negative prediction.
Ich möchte nicht nur deine Erwartungen erfüllen, sondern dass du glücklich bist.
I don't just want to meet your expectations; I want you to be happy.
A deeper, more meaningful use of the phrase.
Leider konnten wir Ihre Erwartungen dieses Mal nicht erfüllen.
Unfortunately, we were not able to meet your expectations this time.
A standard formal way to apologize for a service failure.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
Der Urlaub hat meine Erwartungen leider nicht ___.
Since the sentence uses 'hat' (Perfekt tense), you need the past participle 'erfüllt'.
Choose the correct noun to complete the collocation.
Wir versuchen immer, die ___ unserer Kunden zu erfüllen.
'Erwartungen' is the plural noun that fits perfectly with 'erfüllen' in this context.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Spectrum of 'Erwartungen erfüllen'
Talking to friends about a movie or pizza.
Der Film hat's voll erfüllt!
Standard everyday use for products or services.
Das Hotel erfüllt meine Erwartungen.
Business meetings or official letters.
Wir streben danach, Ihre Erwartungen zu erfüllen.
Where to use 'Erwartungen erfüllen'
Job Interview
Ich werde Ihre Erwartungen erfüllen.
Online Shopping
Das Produkt erfüllt die Erwartungen.
Dating
Hat er deine Erwartungen erfüllt?
Restaurant Visit
Das Essen hat meine Erwartungen erfüllt.
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNot at all! You can use it for anything from a Netflix show to a new flavor of ice cream. It is very common in daily life.
Yes, you can say Er erfüllt meine Erwartungen. However, be careful as it can sound a bit judgmental or cold depending on the tone.
The most common opposite is Erwartungen enttäuschen (to disappoint expectations). You could also say hinter den Erwartungen zurückbleiben (to fall short).
No, you can also use entsprechen (to correspond to). For example: Das entspricht meinen Erwartungen. It sounds slightly more formal.
You use the verb übertreffen. For example: Das Ergebnis hat alle Erwartungen übertroffen.
Yes, it's very common in the Perfekt tense: Es hat die Erwartungen erfüllt.
In a job interview, no. It sounds confident. In a friendship, it might sound a bit formal, so use it sparingly there.
Yes. Hoffnung is a wish, while Erwartung is based on what you think *should* happen. Erwartungen erfüllen is more about standards.
You can say teilweise erfüllt (partially met). For example: Meine Erwartungen wurden nur teilweise erfüllt.
Definitely! Der Film hat meine Erwartungen voll erfüllt is a very common way to recommend something.
Usually, it's plural (Erwartungen), because we usually have more than one hope for a situation.
Learners often forget the 'n' at the end of Erwartungen in the plural or use the wrong preposition. Remember: no preposition is needed!
Related Phrases
Anforderungen entsprechen
To meet requirements
Hoffnungen wecken
To raise hopes
Einen Wunsch erfüllen
To grant a wish
Den Standard halten
To maintain the standard
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