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Illustration of the B1 German word “ermitteln”, which translates to “to investigate”. Close-up of a badger detective pressing a huge glowing magnifying glass to a bright fresh clue-print, the little mystery blazing sharp inside the giant lens.
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ermitteln is one of the B1 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

ermitteln

to investigate

/ɛɐ̯ˈmɪtl̩n/

Conjugation

Principal parts

ermitteln, ermittelte, hat ermittelt

ich ermittle
du ermittelst
er/sie/es ermittelt
wir ermitteln
ihr ermittelt
sie/Sie ermitteln

Practice "ermitteln"

Examples — ermitteln in a sentence

Die Polizei ermittelt den genauen Tathergang.

The police are investigating the exact course of events.

Er muss noch die Kosten für das Projekt ermitteln.

He still has to determine the costs for the project.

How to remember it

ER-mit-teln sounds like 'EAR-METAL-in' — a detective with a metal detector investigating a crime scene.

More B1 words

Illustration of the B1 German word “die Ermittlung”, which translates to “investigation”. A huge glowing evidence board fills the frame, bright red threads pinned between clues, one small fox detective at the centre tracing a single shining strand with its paw.
die Ermittlung

/ɛɐ̯ˈmɪtlʊŋ/

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investigation

Examples

Die Polizei hat die Ermittlung eingeleitet.

The police have started the investigation.

Eine detaillierte Ermittlung ist erforderlich.

A detailed investigation is necessary.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “festnehmen”, which translates to “to arrest”. A stout bulldog in a police cap clips oversized golden handcuffs onto a runaway gingerbread man frozen mid-stride on a cobblestone street.
festnehmen

/ˈfɛstˌneːmən/

to arrest

Principal parts

festnehmen, nahm fest, hat festgenommen

ich nehme fest
du nimmst fest
er/sie/es nimmt fest
wir nehmen fest
ihr nehmt fest
sie/Sie nehmen fest

Examples

Die Beamten konnten den Verdächtigen festnehmen.

The officers were able to arrest the suspect.

Der Kriminelle wurde gestern Abend festgenommen.

The criminal was arrested last night.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “freilassen”, which translates to “to release / to let go free”. A tortoise gardener tips open a glass jar at dusk, one glowing firefly rising out of it into the violet sky, the jar still tilted in his claws.
freilassen

/ˈfʁaɪ̯ˌlasn̩/

to release / to let go free

Principal parts

freilassen, ließ frei, hat freigelassen

ich lasse frei
du lässt frei
er/sie/es lässt frei
wir lassen frei
ihr lasst frei
sie/Sie lassen frei

Examples

Der gefangene Vogel wurde endlich freigelassen.

The captured bird was finally released.

Man sollte unschuldige Menschen sofort freilassen.

One should release innocent people immediately.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “die Gerechtigkeit”, which translates to “justice”. Close-up of a calm badger judge beneath a huge glowing balance-scale that floats above it, both bright golden pans hanging perfectly level and even, filling the frame.
die Gerechtigkeit

/ɡəˈʁɛçtɪçkaɪ̯t/

justice

Examples

Alle fordern mehr soziale Gerechtigkeit im Land.

Everyone demands more social justice in the country.

Für viele Menschen ist Gerechtigkeit ein hohes Gut.

For many people, justice is a high value.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “die Haft”, which translates to “custody / imprisonment”. Close-up of a glum raccoon sitting behind a huge set of glowing golden bars that fill the frame, one bright barred window of custody framing its little face.
die Haft

/haft/

custody / imprisonment

Examples

Nach dem Urteil kam der Angeklagte in Haft.

After the verdict, the accused was taken into custody.

Er verbrachte mehrere Jahre in Haft für seine Taten.

He spent several years in imprisonment for his actions.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “die Kommissarin”, which translates to “police inspector (female)”. A sharp-eyed badger detective in a trench coat crouches with a huge magnifying glass, eyebrows raised in triumph, as a guilty raccoon tiptoes away behind her.
die Kommissarin

/kɔmɪˈsaːʁɪn/

police inspector (female)

Examples

Die Kommissarin löste den Fall nach langer Suche.

The female police inspector solved the case after a long search.

Sie ist eine sehr erfahrene Kommissarin in Berlin.

She is a very experienced female police inspector in Berlin.

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feminine Ermittlung — investigation

ErmittlungfestnehmenfreilassenGerechtigkeitHaftKommissarinAll German word pages

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