das  Delikt

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/deˈlɪkt/

⚖️ What Exactly is *ein Delikt*?

Das Delikt (neuter gender) refers to an offense, misdemeanor, wrongdoing, or crime. It's a key term in the German legal system (*Rechtssystem*) and describes an act that violates current law (*geltendes Recht*) and can be punished by law.

The term is primarily used in legal jargon (*juristischer Sprachgebrauch*), but can also refer more generally to misconduct or a lapse.

There is only one article for this word: das Delikt. 🚨 Remember: *Always neuter!*

🧐 Grammar Check: Declining *das Delikt*

The noun *Delikt* is neuter (*sächlich*) and is declined as follows:

Example Sentences

• Der Diebstahl ist ein typisches Delikt gegen das Eigentum. (Theft is a typical offense against property.)
• Der Angeklagte wurde des Delikts überführt. (The defendant was convicted of the offense.)
• Wegen verschiedener Delikte musste er vor Gericht erscheinen. (He had to appear in court because of various offenses.)
• Die Polizei untersucht das Delikt. (The police are investigating the offense.)

📝 How to Use *das Delikt* Correctly

The term das Delikt is mainly used in legal and official contexts. It serves as a general term (*Oberbegriff*) for various types of legal violations.

• Distinction from other terms:
  • Straftat: Often used synonymously, but *Straftat* (criminal offense) is the broader term in the German Criminal Code (*Strafgesetzbuch*). Every *Delikt* is a *Straftat*, but the focus might differ slightly.
  • Vergehen: Refers to less serious criminal offenses (as opposed to *Verbrechen*, felony/crime). A *Delikt* can be a *Vergehen* or a *Verbrechen*.
  • Ordnungswidrigkeit: This is not a *Delikt* in the criminal law sense, but a minor administrative offense, usually punished with a fine (*Bußgeld*) (e.g., illegal parking - *Falschparken*).
• Typical combinations: You might hear of a *Vermögensdelikt* (property offense), *Gewaltdelikt* (violent offense), *Verkehrsdelikt* (traffic offense), or *Pressedelikt* (press offense).
• Context: In everyday language (*Alltagssprache*), you're more likely to hear "Straftat", "Verbrechen", or more specific terms like "Diebstahl" (theft) or "Körperverletzung" (assault). "Delikt" sounds more formal and is often used in police reports, court proceedings, or legal texts.

🧠 Mnemonics for *das Delikt*

1. For the article 'das':

   Think of das Vergehen (the misdemeanor) or das Unrecht (the injustice). Many abstract legal terms, especially those of Latin origin or ending in -t, are neuter in German. Or imagine exclaiming: "Das ist ja ein Delikt!" (That's quite an offense!) – the emphasis on "Das" fits the neuter article.

2. For the meaning 'offense/crime':

   "Delikt" sounds a bit like the English word "delinquent" or "delete". An offense (*Delikt*) is something society wants to "delete" or get rid of, something undesirable.

↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Caution: Do not confuse *Delikt* with *Delikatesse* (delicacy)! The similarity is purely coincidental.

😄 A Little Legal Joke

Richter: "Warum haben Sie das Auto gestohlen?"
Angeklagter: "Es stand direkt vor dem Schild 'Hier parken' – da dachte ich, das wäre eine Aufforderung!"

Translation:
Judge: "Why did you steal the car?"
Defendant: "It was parked right in front of the sign 'Park here' – I thought it was an instruction!"

(Okay, maybe not a direct *Delikt* in the joke, but it involves a potential offense 😉).

📜 A Poem About the Offense

Ein Dieb schlich leis' durch dunkle Nacht,
hat auf fremdes Gut geacht'.
Das Delikt war schnell vollbracht,
doch hat er nicht an Folgen gedacht.
Das Recht wacht streng, bei Tag und Nacht.

Translation:
A thief crept quietly through dark night,
had eyed another's property's might.
The offense was quickly done,
but he thought not of consequences to run.
The law watches strictly, day and night.

❓ Who or What Am I?

Ich bin kein Freund, bring' oft nur Leid,
steh' im Gesetzbuch, schwarz auf weiß bereit.
Man ahndet mich mit Straf' und Buß',
ich bin ein unerlaubter Gruß.
Man nennt mich sächlich, stets mit 'das'.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I am no friend, often bring but sorrow,
Stand in the law book, black on white, for tomorrow.
I'm punished with penalty and fine,
I am a forbidden sign.
They call me neuter, always with 'das'.

What am I?
Solution: das Delikt (the offense)

💡 Additional Info About *Delikt*

• Word Origin (Wortherkunft): The word "Delikt" comes from the Latin delictum, meaning "fault," "debt," or "error." It derives from the verb delinquere ("to fail," "to offend").
• Types of Offenses (Arten von Delikten): Lawyers distinguish many types, e.g.:
  • Eigentumsdelikte: Property offenses (theft, robbery, fraud)
  • Gewaltdelikte: Violent offenses (assault, homicide)
  • Verkehrsdelikte: Traffic offenses (drunk driving, hit-and-run)
  • Amtsdelikte: Offenses committed by public officials
  • Umweltdelikte: Environmental offenses (illegal waste disposal, water pollution)
• Criminal Capacity (Deliktsfähigkeit): Describes a person's capacity to be held legally responsible for an offense committed (dependent on age and mental state).