Illustration of the B1 German word “schuldig”, which translates to “guilty”. Close-up of a raccoon slumped with head bowed and ears drooping under one harsh glowing beam of light, a huge heavy shadow of guilt pooling around it, filling the frame.
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schuldig

guilty

/ˈʃʊldɪç/

Forms

Comparative Forms

Positive schuldig
Komparativ schuldiger
Superlativ am schuldigsten

Examples — schuldig in a sentence

Der Angeklagte wurde schuldig des Diebstahls gesprochen.

The defendant was found guilty of theft.

Ich fühle mich schuldig wegen meines Fehlers gestern.

I feel guilty because of my mistake yesterday.

How to remember it

'SHOULD-dig' – 'You SHOULD dig up the truth if you feel *guilty*.'

More B1 words

Illustration of the B1 German word “die Strafe”, which translates to “punishment / penalty”. A guilty-looking cat sitting in a giant spotlight cone that beams straight down on it out of the dark, one huge accusing shadow-hand pointing at it from the frame's edge.
die Strafe

/ˈʃtʁaːfə/

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punishment / penalty

Examples

Er bekam eine hohe Strafe für das Vergehen.

He received a high penalty for the offense.

Die Strafe für Falschparken ist teuer.

The fine for illegal parking is expensive.

Illustration of the B1 German word “der Täter”, which translates to “perpetrator / culprit”. A raccoon in a striped jersey freezes mid-tiptoe in a spotlight with a stolen pie in both paws, one guilty eye squinting at the beam catching him.
der Täter

/ˈtɛːtɐ/

perpetrator / culprit

Examples

Die Polizei sucht noch immer nach dem Täter.

The police are still looking for the perpetrator.

Es gab keine Hinweise auf den Täter.

There were no clues about the culprit.

Illustration of the B1 German word “unschuldig”, which translates to “innocent”. A small fluffy lamb stands alone in a bright innocent spotlight, wide-eyed and haloed in soft light, a huge accusing shadow-finger pointing at it from the dark frame edge while it is plainly blameless.
unschuldig

/ˈʊnʃʊldɪç/

innocent

Comparative Forms

Positive unschuldig
Komparativ unschuldiger
Superlativ am unschuldigsten

Examples

Der Angeklagte beteuerte seine Unschuld, er war unschuldig.

The defendant asserted his innocence; he was innocent.

Sie hatte ein unschuldiges Lächeln auf den Lippen.

She had an innocent smile on her lips.

Illustration of the B1 German word “das Urteil”, which translates to “verdict / judgment”. A solemn heron in a powdered wig brings a wooden gavel down onto its block, the impact sending a shockwave ring through the courtroom air.
das Urteil

/ˈuːɐ̯ˌtaɪ̯l/

verdict / judgment

Examples

Das Gericht wird heute sein Urteil verkünden.

The court will announce its verdict today.

Man sollte nicht zu schnell ein Urteil über andere fällen.

One should not pass judgment on others too quickly.

Illustration of the B1 German word “das Verbrechen”, which translates to “crime”. A masked raccoon burglar in a striped jersey caught red-handed, one paw deep in a giant cookie jar clutching a huge cookie, frozen wide-eyed in a bright torch beam as a shocked owl points an accusing wing at him.
das Verbrechen

/fɛɐ̯ˈbʁɛçn̩/

crime

Examples

Ein Verbrechen bleibt niemals ungesühnt.

A crime never goes unpunished.

Die Polizei ermittelt in einem schweren Verbrechen.

The police are investigating a serious crime.

Illustration of the B1 German word “der Verdacht”, which translates to “suspicion”. Close-up of a detective badger in a deerstalker cap and coat, peering through a big brass magnifying glass at a small puzzled garden gnome, a single question mark floating in the lens between them.
der Verdacht

/fɛɐ̯ˈdaxt/

suspicion

Examples

Die Polizei hatte einen Verdacht gegen ihn.

The police had a suspicion against him.

Mein Verdacht hat sich leider bestätigt.

My suspicion has unfortunately been confirmed.

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feminine Strafe — punishment / penalty

StrafeTäterunschuldigUrteilVerbrechenVerdachtAll German word pages

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