How do you say Defense in German?

When someone’s under attack - whether it’s a soccer goal, a courtroom accusation, or a nation’s border - German calls the response a Verteidigung. It’s the word for protection, resistance, and standing your ground.

The noun Verteidigung means defense, and it’s used in military, legal, sports, and everyday contexts. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s especially helpful when talking about arguments, protection, or national security.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Verteidigung.

Pronunciation

Verteidigung is pronounced [fɛɐ̯ˈtaɪ̯dɪɡʊŋ], roughly "fer-TY-di-gung," with short i and short u.

• The “Ver” is like “fair.”
• The “tei” rhymes roughly with “eye"; the following di has a short i, not a long ee.
• The ending “-gung” has a short u as in “put" and ng as in ”sing,” with no separate g sound.

Example sentences:

• Die Verteidigung des Angeklagten war überzeugend.The defense of the defendant was convincing.
• Die Mannschaft konzentrierte sich auf die Verteidigung.The team focused on defense.

Nuance and usage tips

Verteidigung covers a broad spectrum of “defense” situations:

• Legal:Die Verteidigung plädiert auf Freispruch. - “The defense asks for an acquittal.”
• Military or political:Verteidigungsministerium - Ministry of DefenseLandesverteidigung - national defense
• Sports:In der zweiten Halbzeit stand die Verteidigung gut. - “The defense held strong in the second half.”

Its natural antonym is Angriff (masculine, der Angriff), meaning attack or assault.