das  Verbot

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈboːt/

📜 What exactly is 'das Verbot'?

Das Verbot (noun, neuter) refers to an order, regulation, or law that prohibits a specific action or activity. It expresses that something is not allowed.

Essentially, a Verbot is a formal or informal instruction to refrain from doing something. It can be issued by state institutions, organizations, or even in the private sphere (e.g., Hausordnung - house rules).

• Typical examples: Rauchverbot (smoking ban), Parkverbot (parking ban), Handyverbot (cell phone ban).
• Context: Often used in connection with rules, laws, and penalties.

⚠️ The only correct article for Verbot is das. Other articles are incorrect here.

🧐 Grammar of 'das Verbot' in Detail

The word "Verbot" is a noun with the neuter article das. It belongs to the strong declension group.

Example Sentences

1. Das Verbot, hier zu rauchen, ist neu. (The ban on smoking here is new.)
2. Wegen des Verbots durften wir den Park nicht betreten. (Because of the ban, we weren't allowed to enter the park.)
3. Er widersetzte sich dem Verbot. (He defied the ban.)
4. Die Schule hat ein Handyverbot erlassen. (The school issued a cell phone ban.)
5. Es gibt viele Verbote in dieser Einrichtung. (There are many prohibitions in this facility.)

🚦 When and how to use 'das Verbot'?

"Das Verbot" is used to express a prohibition or restriction. Here are some typical contexts:

• Law & Administration: Laws and regulations often contain prohibitions (e.g., Importverbot - import ban, Fahrverbot - driving ban).
• Rules & Regulations: Schools, companies, or public facilities have bans (e.g., Rauchverbot - smoking ban, Fotografierverbot - photography ban).
• Everyday Language: Bans are also discussed in private settings (e.g., "Meine Mutter hat mir ein Fernsehverbot erteilt." - My mother imposed a TV ban on me.).

Distinction from similar words:

• Untersagung: Sounds more formal and bureaucratic than Verbot.
• Einschränkung (restriction): Is less absolute than a Verbot; it allows something under certain conditions or to a lesser extent.
• Warnung (warning): Points out a danger but isn't necessarily a formal ban.

A Verbot often implies a potential consequence (Strafe - penalty, Sanktion - sanction) for non-compliance.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Verbot'

Article Mnemonic (das): Think of das Gesetz (the law) or das Regelwerk (the set of rules). Many abstract nouns describing rules or concepts in German are neuter – including das Verbot.

Meaning Mnemonic: Verbot sounds a lot like the English word "forbid". Imagine someone saying firmly, "I forbid it!" – that's the essence of a Verbot. Alternatively, the German verb is verbieten (to forbid).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of Verbot

Potential for Confusion? Be careful not to mix up "Verbot" with "Gebot". They are direct opposites!

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum hat der Polizist dem Bleistift ein Parkverbot erteilt? – Weil er immer Linien überschritten hat!

English: Why did the police officer give the pencil a parking ban? – Because it kept crossing the lines! ✏️🚫

✍️ A Short Poem

German:
Manches Schild, so klar und rein,
sagt dir deutlich: "Lass es sein!"
Ob Rauchen, Parken, lautes Lachen,
das Verbot will Ordnung machen.
Es schränkt dich ein, das ist wohl wahr,
doch dient's der Ordnung, wunderbar.

English Translation:
Some signs, so clear and clean,
tell you plainly: "Don't convene!"
Whether smoking, parking, laughing loud,
the ban seeks order in the crowd.
It limits you, that's surely true,
but serves order, through and through.

❓ A Little Riddle

German:
Ich sage oft "Nein", doch spreche kein Wort.
Ich steh' auf Schildern an manchem Ort.
Ich grenze ein, was man nicht darf,
bin manchmal locker, manchmal scharf.

Was bin ich?
Lösung: Das Verbot

English Translation:
I often say "No", but speak no word.
I stand on signs, my message heard.
I limit what one must not do,
Sometimes I'm gentle, sometimes strict and true.

What am I?
Answer: The ban (Das Verbot)

💡 More Interesting Facts

Word Composition:

The word "Verbot" derives from the verb "verbieten" (to forbid). The prefix "ver-" here expresses negation or prevention, similar to its use in "verhindern" (to prevent) or "versperren" (to block). The stem "biet-" comes from "bieten" in the old sense of "to command" or "to order" (compare with "Gebot" - commandment, order). Thus, a Verbot literally means a "counter-order" or an order not to do something.

Cultural Aspects:

Verbote often reflect societal norms and values. What is forbidden (verboten) in one culture may be permitted in another.