"Hunden svigter ham ikke."

Translation: The dog does not fail him.

[PhilWorld]

I do not really understand what this sentence means.

[AugustLindemer]

Imagine a blind person with a guide dog - A good guide dog never fails its owner.

[awefulwaffle]

One of the meanings of "to fail" is "to not help someone when you are expected to do so" e.g. He failed her in her moment of need. [Cambridge online dictionary]

As English goes, "to not fail someone" is a bit more formal and, in some regions, it is also dated English.

When you negate "to fail", you reverse the meaning: "He did not fail her in her moment of need." means that "He helped her in her moment of need."

The exercise "The dog does not fail him" means that "The dog helps him when the dog is expected to help him."

AugustLindemer offers an excellent example about a guide dog.

[DraganoiGeorge]

the dog never disappoints him

[laura.vana]

As a professional trainer, this sentence makes me happy. :)

[UNBALANC3D]

You have a wonderful job! Jeg elsker hunde!!!

[Ieskapieska]

I wrote 'the dog doesn't fail the ham' xD

[DianaChung5]

Why is the "ikke" at the end? Why isn't it, "hunden svigter ikke ham"?

[chuck.coon]

Why isn't "the dog doesn't disappoint him" not accepted?

[Hedebygade]

That would be "hunden skuffer ham ikke".

[MoritzChri]

Can "at svigte" also mean that you fail in e.g. an exam?

So would this sentence be correct?
Jeg svigter på en eksamen.

[NolanWinte]

this is so sweet

[Atcovi]

is this a one time exception where the "ikke" is in a different place?

[dreforall]

... för den er en god hund! :D

[magnusitsdanish]

its hard to hear the word ikke when you just hearing it in normal speed

[FabianRxse]

is the English translation ok? it sounds weird to me...

[annamere]

The structure is fine, but 'does not fail someone' is perhaps a little old-fashioned, perhaps a little melodramatic, something you might read in a book, as opposed to hearing in conversation.

[Deanzie]

The dog could be a laid back professor...