How to Say Police in German - With Formal Examples

If you’re traveling in Germany, watching a crime show, or just trying to stay safe, one word you’ll absolutely need is Polizei. This is the German word for “police,” and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. Whether you’re asking for help, reporting a crime, or simply identifying a police car zooming by, knowing how to use Polizei in German is fundamental for navigating real-life situations.

The word Polizei is feminine-die Polizei-and normally refers to the police as an institution or collective force. English police is collective too. If you’re talking about a single person, you’d say Polizist (male officer) or Polizistin (female officer). (Still unsure when to use der, die, or das? Our short video lesson on gender makes it all finally click, no grammar headaches required.)

Pronounced po-lee-TSIGH, it’s easy to remember once you’ve heard it in a siren-blaring context. The verb agreement differs: German normally uses singular agreement (Die Polizei kommt. - The police are coming.), while English police takes a plural verb. For one officer, say ein Polizist / eine Polizistin or a police officer in English. Ich habe die Polizei gerufen means I called the police.

There isn’t a true opposite to Polizei, but it might help to contrast it with der Verbrecher (criminal), das Verbrechen (crime), or die Kriminalität (criminal activity), depending on what you’re trying to express. You’ll also find this word showing up in combinations like Polizeiwache (police station), Polizeiauto (police car), and Polizeigewalt (police violence), depending on the tone and topic.