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 like “fair,”
brech has a rough “ch” like in Bach,
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)
While Vergehen is used for minor offenses, Verbrechen refers to actions that are punishable by law in a major way (e.g., murder, robbery, arson).
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:
Ich habe das Verbrechen in der Zeitung gelesen.
I read about the crime in the newspaper.
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 – crime prevention
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 Sunday night TV program Tatort often uses Verbrechen in its titles and themes.
📘 Duden entry
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