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What do you say for Crime in German?

Crime in German

It’s what detectives investigate, what newspapers report, and what laws are written to prevent. In German, it’s das Verbrechen. This is your German word of the day, and it’s essential in everything from true crime podcasts to legal documents.

The noun Verbrechen means crime, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. Whether you’re talking about a major offense or reading the news, this word is the standard term for serious wrongdoing.

It’s a neuter noun, so we say das Verbrechen (want to finally get gender right? Our video lesson will make it click in minutes).

Pronunciation

Verbrechen is pronounced [fer-BRECH-en].

  • Ver is unstressed, roughly “fer”; the r is often vocalized,

  • brech - the soft ch from “ich,” not the throaty Bach sound,

  • en like “uhn,” soft at the end,

  • Stress is on the second syllable: ver-BRECH-en

It sounds serious - just like the subject matter.

Example sentences:

Er wurde wegen eines schweren Verbrechens verurteilt.He was convicted of a serious crime.

Ein Verbrechen wurde in der Nacht begangen.A crime was committed during the night.

Nuance and usage tips

Verbrechen refers to a serious criminal act - more severe than a simple violation or misdemeanor:

  • schweres Verbrechen - serious crime

  • ein Verbrechen aufklären - to solve a crime

  • das perfekte Verbrechen - the perfect crime (a common phrase in media)

Vergehen is the legal category for offenses with a lower statutory minimum prison term or a possible fine; such offenses are not necessarily trivial. In everyday language, Verbrechen means a serious crime. Under German criminal law, it is an unlawful act whose statutory minimum prison term is at least one year; the classification concerns the statutory penalty, not the sentence an individual receives.

You’ll also see:

  • Kriminalität - crime in general (the concept of criminality)

  • Straftat - legal term for any punishable act

  • Verbrecher - a person who commits a Verbrechen

How does this word come up in real conversations?

Verbrechen appears frequently in news, documentaries, legal discussions, and even casual conversation - especially around crime stories or true crime media:

“Dieses Verbrechen ist noch nicht aufgeklärt.” - This crime hasn’t been solved yet.“Man spricht von einem Verbrechen aus Leidenschaft.” - People are talking about a crime of passion.

You’ll also hear it in popular culture, especially in German crime series or books (Tatort, anyone?).

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Tarek: Was liest du da?Ina: Einen Artikel über ein Verbrechen in Berlin.Tarek: Echt? Was ist passiert?Ina: Jemand wurde mitten in der Nacht überfallen.

Tarek: What are you reading?Ina: An article about a crime in Berlin.Tarek: Really? What happened?Ina: Someone was mugged in the middle of the night.

Grammatical case examples:

Nominative:Das Verbrechen ist noch nicht gelöst.The crime is still unsolved.

Accusative:Die Polizei hat das Verbrechen schnell aufgeklärt.The police solved the crime quickly.

Dative:Mit dem Verbrechen hat er nichts zu tun.He has nothing to do with the crime.

Genitive:Die Spuren des Verbrechens wurden gesichert.The traces of the crime were secured.

Neuter case pattern: das, das, dem, des

Word variations and language tidbits

Helpful related terms:

  • Verbrechensopfer - crime victim

  • Verbrechensrate - crime rate

  • Verbrechensbekämpfung - fighting crime

  • Verbrechensserie - series of crimes

  • Verbrecher - criminal

  • Verbrechen begehen - to commit a crime

Cultural note: Germans are passionate about crime fiction and crime-solving shows. The long-running TV crime series Tatort is a familiar cultural reference in discussions of crime.

📘 Duden entry🎥 Want to learn the most powerful and useful nouns in German - fast? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 with visuals, examples, and smart grammar tips to help you remember them for good.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Verbindung means? Without it, you might lose more than just your Wi-Fi.What about Verfügung? That one could open doors - or politely offer to help.

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