das  Klauen

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈklaʊən/

📖 What does 'das Klauen' mean?

'Das Klauen' is the nominalization (making a noun from a verb) of the German verb klauen (to steal, to pinch, to nick). It refers to the act of stealing or theft itself, often used colloquially for petty theft or pilfering.

It is a neuter noun and always takes the article 'das'. It describes the action or process of stealing.

Example:

• Das Klauen von Süßigkeiten im Laden ist verboten. (Stealing sweets from the shop is forbidden.)

⚠️ Note: 'Klauen' as a verb is conjugated (ich klaue, du klaust... - I steal, you steal...). 'Das Klauen' as a noun is declined (changes form based on grammatical case).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of 'das Klauen'

'Das Klauen' is a nominalized verb and therefore neuter. It is typically used only in the singular because it describes the abstract process of stealing.

Declension (Singular)

A plural form ('die Klauen') is grammatically possible but very unusual. It would refer to multiple individual acts of stealing, which is usually expressed differently (e.g., 'die Diebstähle' - the thefts).

Example Sentences

1. Das ständige Klauen von Stiften im Büro nervt. (The constant stealing of pens in the office is annoying.)
2. Er wurde des wiederholten Klauens überführt. (He was convicted of repeated stealing.)
3. Mit dem Klauen von Fahrrädern macht man sich strafbar. (One makes oneself liable to prosecution by stealing bicycles.)
4. Sie konnte das heimliche Klauen nicht länger mitansehen. (She could no longer watch the secret stealing.)

💡 How to use 'das Klauen'?

'Das Klauen' is primarily used colloquially to describe the act of stealing. It often carries a slightly less formal or serious connotation than the standard term 'der Diebstahl' (theft).

• Context: Often used in relation to minor offenses, pilfering (like Mundraub - stealing food for immediate consumption), or when discussing theft informally.
• Difference from 'der Diebstahl': 'Der Diebstahl' is the more formal, legally correct term. 'Das Klauen' sounds more everyday, sometimes even trivializing.
• Difference from 'die Klaue': 'Die Klaue' (plural: 'die Klauen') means 'claw' (of an animal) or metaphorically a (grasping) hand. It's a different word with a different meaning and article (feminine).

You'll often hear 'das Klauen' in conversations about everyday situations, e.g., when children take something without asking, or when small items are pilfered from an office.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Klauen'

For the article 'das': Remember that many nouns derived from verbs (nominalizations) are neuter in German. Think: Das Verbrechen (the crime - like a nominalized Verb) is das Klauen. Or associate it with other neuter 'action' nouns like das Tun (the doing), das Machen (the making), hence das Klauen.

For the meaning 'stealing': The word 'Klauen' sounds like the German word for 'claws' (die Klauen). Imagine a magpie using its claws (Klauen) to quickly steal (klauen) something shiny. The act itself is then das Klauen.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

🚨 Similar but different words:

• Die Klaue (f.): Claw (animal); (coll.) hand/paw. Not to be confused with the act of stealing ('das Klauen').

😂 A Little Joke

DE: Warum nehmen Skelette nie etwas mit, was ihnen nicht gehört?

Weil sie keine Klau-en haben! 😉

EN: Why do skeletons never take things that don't belong to them?

Because they don't have any 'Klauen' (claws/hands to steal with)! (Pun on 'Klauen' = claws and 'klauen' = to steal)

✍️ Poem about Stealing (das Klauen)

DE:
Manch einer kann's nicht lassen,
muss heimlich in die Taschen fassen.
Das Klauen, schnell und ungesehn,
doch Unrecht wird nicht lang bestehn.
Ein Apfel hier, ein Stiftchen dort,
es ist und bleibt ein böses Wort.
Drum lass die Finger, wo sie sind,
sei ehrlich, liebes Menschenkind!

EN:
Some just cannot let it be,
Must secretly reach out, you see.
The stealing, quick and out of sight,
But wrong won't long remain the light.
An apple here, a little pen,
It is and stays a wicked sin.
So leave your fingers where they lie,
Be honest, dear human, don't be sly!

❓ Little Riddle

DE:
Ich bin ein Tun, doch keine Arbeit fein,
Ich mach' dein Gut ganz schnell zu meinem.
Gesetzlich bin ich streng verpönt,
mein Name oft nur leise tönt.
Man tut es heimlich, meist geschwind,
der Dieb es eine Lösung find'.

Was bin ich, sächlich, ungeliebt?
(Die Antwort: das Klauen)

EN:
I am an act, but no fine labor,
I quickly make your goods my favor.
By law, I'm strictly frowned upon,
My name is often whispered, wan.
It's done in secret, swift and fast,
The thief finds ways to make it last.

What am I, neuter, unloved deed?
(The answer: das Klauen / stealing)

ℹ️ Additional Info

Etymology: 'Das Klauen' derives directly from the verb 'klauen' (to steal). This verb, in turn, is closely related to 'die Klaue' (the claw). The original meaning likely referred to grasping and holding with claws, which was then transferred to humans secretly taking things. It belongs to colloquial German and has been documented since the 18th century.

Cultural Aspects: While 'der Diebstahl' is a clearly defined legal term, 'das Klauen' often carries a moral judgment that can range from a petty offense to a more serious crime, depending on the context.