der
Augenzeuge
🧐 What does 'der Augenzeuge' mean?
Der Augenzeuge means 'eyewitness' in English. It refers to a male person (or is used generically) who has directly observed an event (e.g., an accident, a crime, a historical occurrence) with their own eyes and can report on it. It's someone who saw what happened.
There is also a female form: die Augenzeugin (female eyewitness).
The word emphasizes direct visual perception as the source of information.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
📜 Grammar Deep Dive: Der Augenzeuge
'Der Augenzeuge' is a masculine noun. It belongs to the weak N-declension (schwache N-Deklination). This means it takes an -n ending in all cases except the Nominative singular.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Augenzeuge |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Augenzeugen |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Augenzeugen |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Augenzeugen |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Augenzeugen |
| Genitive | der | Augenzeugen |
| Dative | den | Augenzeugen |
| Accusative | die | Augenzeugen |
Example Sentences
- Der Augenzeuge beschrieb den Täter genau. (The eyewitness described the perpetrator accurately.)
- Die Polizei befragte den Augenzeugen des Unfalls. (The police questioned the eyewitness of the accident.)
- Die Aussage des Augenzeugen war entscheidend für das Urteil. (The eyewitness's testimony was crucial for the verdict.)
- Mehrere Augenzeugen meldeten sich bei der Polizei. (Several eyewitnesses reported to the police.)
🗣️ How to Use 'Augenzeuge'
'Der Augenzeuge' is primarily used in contexts where direct observation is important:
- Law and Crime: Eyewitnesses are often crucial sources of evidence in solving crimes or accidents. (Bei der Aufklärung von Straftaten...)
- Journalism and Reporting: Reports from eyewitnesses lend authenticity to news articles or documentaries. (Berichte von Augenzeugen...)
- Historiography: Accounts from eyewitnesses of historical events are valuable sources for historians. (Berichte von Augenzeugen historischer Ereignisse...)
- Everyday Language: You can also use it in daily life when someone directly witnessed something (e.g., 'Ich war Augenzeuge, wie der Baum umfiel.' - 'I was an eyewitness to the tree falling.').
It's important to distinguish it from an 'Ohrenzeuge' (earwitness - someone who heard something) or people who only have second-hand information.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Think of der Mann (the man) who uses his Auge (eye) to be a Zeuge (witness). 'Der Augenzeuge' is masculine.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word clearly breaks down: Auge (eye) + Zeuge (witness). It’s a witness whose testimony is based on what they saw with their own eyes.
↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Der Zeuge: Witness (more general, can include earwitnesses etc.).
- Der Beobachter: Observer (can imply less involvement or more casual observation).
- Der Zuschauer: Spectator, onlooker (more for planned events like sports, theatre, less for unexpected incidents).
Antonyms (Opposite Concepts):
😄 A Little Joke
Warum sind kurzsichtige Menschen schlechte Augenzeugen bei einem Banküberfall?
Weil sie nur schemenhaft bezeugen können!
--- Translation ---
Why are near-sighted people bad eyewitnesses during a bank robbery?
Because they can only testify vaguely/schematically! (Pun on 'schemenhaft' meaning 'vague'/'schematic' and relating to poor vision)
✍️ Poem about the Eyewitness
Mit off'nem Blick, ganz klar und wach,
sah er, was jäh geschah.
Ein Knall, ein Blitz, ein Schreck, ein Krach,
der Augenzeuge war da.
Sein Wort hat nun Gewicht und Macht,
er schildert Bild für Bild,
was jene Szene hat vollbracht,
ob furchtbar oder wild.
--- Translation ---
With open gaze, quite clear and awake,
he saw what suddenly took place.
A bang, a flash, a fright, a crash,
the eyewitness was there in that space.
His word now carries weight and might,
he describes image by image,
what that scene brought to light,
whether terrible or savage.
❓ Riddle
Ich sehe, was passiert,
mein Bericht wird oft notiert.
Vor Gericht bin ich gefragt,
hab' genau das nachgesagt,
was mein Sinnesorgan sah.
Wer bin ich? Na klar:
Der [...]
--- Translation & Clues ---
I see what happens,
my report is often noted.
In court, I am asked,
I have repeated exactly,
what my sense organ saw.
Who am I? Of course:
The [...]
Solution: Augenzeuge (Eyewitness)
💡 More Tidbits
Word Formation (Wortbildung)
The word 'Augenzeuge' is a compound noun (Kompositum), formed from:
This composition clearly indicates the specific type of witness – one who gained knowledge through seeing.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Augenzeuge?
The word "Augenzeuge" is masculine. The correct article is der: der Augenzeuge. The feminine form is die Augenzeugin.