das  Geständnis

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈʃtɛndnɪs/

🧐 What does "das Geständnis" mean?

Das Geständnis (noun, neuter) refers to the act or statement in which someone admits something they previously concealed, denied, or did not disclose. It usually involves admitting guilt, a mistake, a crime, or even a personal truth or feeling.

• In a legal context: The admission of a crime to authorities (Polizei, Gericht - police, court). A Geständnis can lead to a reduced sentence (strafmildernd wirken).
• In a personal context: Revealing something hidden, often emotionally burdensome, to another person (e.g., a Liebesgeständnis - declaration of love, admitting a mistake).

The word Geständnis always takes the article das. ⚠️ Be careful not to equate it directly with die Beichte (confession in a purely religious context) or das Bekenntnis (confession/profession, which can be broader, e.g., a political commitment - politisches Bekenntnis), although they can be similar.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar of "das Geständnis" in Detail

Geständnis is a neuter noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.

📝 Example Sentences

• Der Angeklagte legte ein umfassendes Geständnis ab. (The defendant made a full confession. - Accusative Singular after 'ein')
• Der Inhalt des Geständnisses überraschte alle. (The content of the confession surprised everyone. - Genitive Singular)
• Die Polizei schenkte dem Geständnis Glauben. (The police believed the confession. - Dative Singular)
• Sie hörte sich das Geständnis schweigend an. (She listened to the confession in silence. - Accusative Singular)
• Mehrere Geständnisse führten zur Aufklärung des Falls. (Several confessions led to solving the case. - Nominative Plural)

💡 How to use "das Geständnis"?

The word Geständnis is often used in specific contexts:

• Law & Crime (Recht & Kriminalität): Very common in connection with investigations, court proceedings, and criminal offenses. Example: "Sein Geständnis führte zur Verurteilung." (His confession led to the conviction.)
• Personal Relationships (Persönliche Beziehungen): When someone admits something important, often emotional or related to a mistake. Example: "Nach langem Zögern machte er ihr ein Liebesgeständnis." (After long hesitation, he made a declaration of love to her.)
• Psychology & Ethics (Psychologie & Ethik): In the context of feelings of guilt, honesty, and the need to reveal oneself. Example: "Das Geständnis war für ihn eine große Erleichterung." (The confession was a great relief for him.)

Typical verbs used with Geständnis:

• ein Geständnis ablegen (to make/file a confession)
• ein Geständnis machen (to make a confession)
• ein Geständnis widerrufen (to retract a confession)
• zu einem Geständnis kommen (to come to a confession)
• jemanden zu einem Geständnis bewegen/drängen (to persuade/push someone to confess)

Difference from similar words:

• Beichte: Purely religious, confession of sins to a priest.
• Bekenntnis: Broader term, can also express a conviction (e.g., politisches Bekenntnis - political affiliation/creed) or belonging, not just guilt or error.
• Eingeständnis: Very similar to Geständnis, often used synonymously, perhaps slightly less formal or serious than a legal Geständnis.

🧠 Mnemonics for "Geständnis"

1. For the article "das": Think of "das Geheimnis" (the secret). Many German nouns ending in "-nis" are neuter (das Ergebnis - result, das Ereignis - event, das Verhältnis - relationship...). A Geständnis is like a revealed secret - so it's also das.
2. For the meaning: Imagine someone has to "stand" (from gestehen, which relates to stehen - to stand) in court and tell the truth – that's their Geständnis. Or someone has to 'stand up' and admit their mistake.

"A Geständnis is like an open Geheimnis – both are das."

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Geständnis

🚨 Caution: Although similar, Geständnis is often stronger and more formal (especially in the legal sense) than a simple Eingeständnis.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Machen Sie nun endlich ein Geständnis?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Nein, Herr Richter, ich habe schon genug gestanden – die ganze Verhandlung über!"

Translation:
The judge asks the defendant: "Are you finally going to make a confession (Geständnis)?"
The defendant replies: "No, Your Honor, I've already done enough standing (gestanden - past participle of 'stehen', to stand) – throughout the whole trial!"
(It's a pun on 'Geständnis' which sounds like it involves 'stehen' - to stand).

📜 Poem: The Heavy Confession

Ein Druck lastet schwer,
Die Wahrheit will raus, immer mehr.
Ein Wort, das befreit,
Doch Furcht macht sich breit.

Das Herz klopft so bang,
Der Moment ist nicht lang.
Dann bricht es hervor,
Das Geständnis, durchs Tor
Der Lippen, ganz leis,
Und endet der Kreis
Des Schweigens, der Not,
Ein ehrliches Bot'.

Translation:
A pressure weighs heavily,
The truth wants out, increasingly.
A word that sets free,
But fear spreads widely.

The heart beats so fearfully,
The moment isn't long, you see.
Then it breaks forth,
The confession, through the door
Of the lips, so quietly,
And ends the cycle
Of silence, of plight,
A message honest and bright.

🧩 Riddle

Ich kann vor Gericht Gewicht haben,
oder Herzen zum Beben bringen als Liebesgaben.
Ich löse oft Schuld und schwere Last,
bin das Gegenteil von Leugnen, ohne Hast.

Was bin ich? ... Das Geständnis

Translation:
I can carry weight in court,
or make hearts tremble as gifts of love's sort.
I often resolve guilt and heavy burdens,
I am the opposite of denial, without sudden turns.

What am I? ... The Confession (das Geständnis)

✨ Additional Information

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

The word "Geständnis" is derived from the verb "gestehen" (to admit, to confess). It is formed by:

• The prefix ge- (often used for past participles or collective nouns)
• The verb stem steh- (from "stehen" - to stand, in the sense of "to stand by something")
• The suffix -dnis (used to form nouns from verbs, similar to -nis, e.g., Ergebnis - result, Ereignis - event). The form -dnis is specific here following the 'h'.

Interestingly, "gestehen" comes from "stehen" (to stand), in the sense of "to stand up for something", "to vouch for something". Etymologically, a Geständnis is therefore the act of "standing by" a deed or truth.