das  Urteil

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʔuːʁtaɪ̯l/

🧐 What does 'das Urteil' mean?

The German noun das Urteil (neuter) has two main meanings:

• 👨‍⚖️ Legal Judgment/Verdict: The formal decision of a court at the end of legal proceedings. Synonyms in this context include Gerichtsentscheid (court decision) or Verdikt (verdict).
• 🤔 Personal Judgment/Opinion: An opinion or assessment about a person, thing, or situation. In this sense, it's similar to Meinung (opinion), Bewertung (assessment), or Einschätzung (estimation), but often carries a sense of finality or thorough consideration.

⚠️ Caution: Although it sounds similar, das Vorurteil (prejudice) is different – it's a judgment made without examining the facts.

📐 Grammar Corner: 'das Urteil'

Das Urteil is a neuter noun. Here is its declension:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Das Gericht fällte ein mildes Urteil.
   (The court passed a lenient sentence/judgment.)
2. Der Richter verkündete das Urteil im Namen des Volkes.
   (The judge announced the verdict in the name of the people.)
3. Sein Urteil über den neuen Film war sehr positiv.
   (His judgment/opinion of the new movie was very positive.)
4. Ich habe mir noch kein abschließendes Urteil gebildet.
   (I haven't formed a final judgment/opinion yet.)
5. Die Urteile in diesem Fall waren sehr unterschiedlich.
   (The judgments/verdicts in this case were very different.)

💡 How to Use 'das Urteil'

The usage of das Urteil depends heavily on the context:

• In a legal context: Here, 'Urteil' is a clearly defined technical term for a court's decision. Common verbs used with it are ein Urteil fällen (to pass judgment), sprechen (to pronounce judgment), verkünden (to announce judgment), or anfechten (to appeal a judgment).
• In general language: Here, 'Urteil' describes an often well-considered opinion or assessment. It sounds more formal and definitive than 'Meinung' (opinion). One can sich ein Urteil bilden (form a judgment), sein Urteil abgeben (give one's judgment), or zu einem Urteil kommen (arrive at a judgment).

Distinguishing from similar words:

• Meinung (die): A personal view, not necessarily based on facts or deep analysis. Das Urteil often implies more thought or authority.
• Entscheidung (die): The act of choosing one of several possibilities. While a court verdict is a decision, the term 'Urteil' is more specific to the legal conclusion. A personal assessment ('Urteil') can lead to a decision.
• Bewertung (die): An assessment of value or quality. Can be synonymous with 'Urteil' in the sense of personal assessment, but is often more specific to grades or scales.

One can also speak of a Fehlurteil (miscarriage of justice, wrong judgment) or a Vorurteil (prejudice).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Urteil'

1. For the article 'das':

   Think of the neutral scales of justice ⚖️. The scale itself is neuter ('sächlich' in German), representing DAS fair, neutral Urteil (judgment).

2. For the meaning(s):

   Imagine an 'Ur-Teil' - an ancient (Ur-) part (-teil) of society is the administration of justice (Gerichtsurteil). And everyone has their 'part' (Teil) or share of opinion, their personal assessment – their Urteil.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• Das Vorurteil: Prejudice; a preconceived, usually negative opinion without sufficient examination.
• Der Anteil: A part or share of something.

😄 A Little Joke

Richter zum Angeklagten: "Schwören Sie, die Wahrheit, die reine Wahrheit und nichts als die Wahrheit zu sagen?"
Angeklagter: "Nein, Herr Richter, ich wollte eigentlich nur übers Wetter plaudern."

Translation:

Judge to the defendant: "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
Defendant: "No, Your Honor, I actually just wanted to chat about the weather."

(Okay, the joke isn't directly about the verdict/judgment itself, but about the context where judgments are made!)

📜 A Poem about 'das Urteil'

Im Saal der Stille, ernst und schwer,
hallt bald ein Wort, man hört es sehr.
Gesprochen nach Gesetz und Recht,
ob gut es ist, ob manchmal schlecht.

Gefällt nach Prüfung, lang und breit,
beendet es den alten Streit.
Das Urteil kommt, mit letzter Macht,
hat über Schuld und Recht gewacht.

Doch auch im Herzen, leis und klein,
fällt mancher Spruch, für sich allein.
Ein Urteil über dies und das,
mal voller Ernst, mal voller Spaß.

Translation:

In the hall of silence, serious and grave,
Soon echoes a word, heard very brave.
Spoken according to law and right,
Whether it is good, or sometimes blight.

Passed after examination, long and wide,
It ends the old dispute inside.
The judgment comes, with final might,
Has watched over wrong and right.

But also in the heart, quiet and small,
Many a verdict falls, for oneself, standing tall.
A judgment on this and that you see,
Sometimes full of earnestness, sometimes full of glee.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich kann hart sein oder mild,
beende manchen Streit ganz wild.
Im Gerichtssaal werd' ich gesprochen,
hab' schon manchen Traum zerbrochen.
Doch auch als Meinung, klar und rein,
kann ich deine Einschätzung sein.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I can be harsh or mild,
Ending many a conflict, quite wild.
In the courtroom, I am spoken,
Have shattered many a dream awoken.
But also as an opinion, clear and pure,
I can be your assessment, to be sure.

What am I?

Solution: Das Urteil (the judgment/verdict/opinion)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition

The word 'Urteil' is composed of:

• Ur-: A prefix often meaning 'original', 'fundamental', or 'ancient' (like in Ursprung - origin, Urzeit - primeval times).
• -teil: Related to the verb 'teilen' in the sense of 'to allot', 'to assign'. Historically, 'urteilen' meant something like 'to assign a share', which evolved into the meaning 'to administer justice', 'to decide'.

Interestingly, it's not directly related to 'Teil' (a piece of something), although the spelling is identical.

Compound Nouns

There are many compound nouns with 'Urteil', e.g.:

• Das Gerichtsurteil: Court judgment
• Das Fehlurteil: Wrong judgment, miscarriage of justice
• Das Vorurteil: Prejudice
• Die Urteilsverkündung: Pronouncement of judgment
• Die Urteilsbegründung: Statement of reasons for the judgment
• Das Geschmacksurteil: Judgment based on personal taste