der  Bankräuber

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈbaŋkʁɔʏbɐ/

💰 What exactly is a 'Bankräuber'?

A Bankräuber is a person (usually male) who commits a robbery at a bank to steal money or other valuables. The word is specific to the location of the crime (die Bank - the bank).

• It is a masculine noun, so the article is always der.
• The feminine form is die Bankräuberin.

🚨 Attention: Don't confuse 'Bankräuber' with 'Einbrecher' (a burglar, someone who breaks into buildings, not necessarily banks, and often without direct confrontation) or 'Dieb' (a thief, someone who steals, but not necessarily using violence or threats).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Bankräuber

The noun 'Bankräuber' is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Der gefasste Bankräuber wurde zu einer langen Haftstrafe verurteilt.
   (The captured bank robber was sentenced to a long prison term.)
2. Die Polizei sucht nach zwei unbekannten Bankräubern.
   (The police are looking for two unknown bank robbers.)
3. Man erzählte sich Geschichten über einen legendären Bankräuber aus den 20er Jahren.
   (People told stories about a legendary bank robber from the 20s.)
4. Dem Bankräuber gelang die Flucht mit mehreren tausend Euro.
   (The bank robber managed to escape with several thousand euros.)

🗣️ How to Use 'Bankräuber'

The term 'Bankräuber' is mainly used in contexts related to crime:

• News reports: „Ein maskierter Bankräuber überfiel heute Morgen eine Filiale in der Innenstadt.“ (A masked bank robber held up a branch in the city center this morning.)
• Crime novels/films: The cliché of the Bankräuber is a common motif.
• Everyday language: When talking about actual bank robberies.
• Metaphorically (rare): Sometimes jokingly for someone charging high prices (e.g., „Diese Werkstatt ist ja der reinste Bankräuber!“ - This workshop is a real rip-off! lit. 'pure bank robber'), but this is rather colloquial and not the primary meaning.

It's important to distinguish the feminine form die Bankräuberin when referring to a woman.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think: Der Räuber (the robber - masculine) robs the bank. A Bankräuber is usually male -> der Bankräuber.

Meaning Mnemonic: Just combine the parts: 'Bank' + 'Räuber' (robber). A robber specializing in banks. Simple!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different terms:

• Einbrecher: Burglar - steals by breaking in, not necessarily with threat of violence against people and not only in banks.
• Dieb: Thief - steals without violence or threat.
• Betrüger: Fraudster/con artist - obtains assets through deception, not robbery.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum tragen Bankräuber immer Masken?
Damit die Bankangestellten nicht sehen, wie rot sie vor Aufregung werden! 😉

(Why do bank robbers always wear masks?
So the bank employees don't see how red they turn from excitement!)

📜 A Poem about the Bankräuber

Mit Maske, Tasche, schnellem Schritt,
Der Bankräuber nimmt das Geld mit.
Die Sirenen heulen, die Jagd beginnt,
Ob er entkommt, geschwind, geschwind?

Er träumt von Reichtum, fernem Strand,
Doch oft endet's mit Handschellen an der Wand.
Ein Leben im Schatten, voller Hast,
Selten bringt das schnelle Geld die erhoffte Last.

(With mask, bag, a rapid stride,
The bank robber takes the money inside.
The sirens wail, the chase takes flight,
Will he escape, with all his might?

He dreams of riches, a distant shore,
But often it ends with handcuffs at the door.
A life in shadows, filled with haste,
Rarely does quick cash remove the bitter taste.)

❓ Who am I? A Riddle

Ich komme zur Bank, doch nicht zum Sparen,
mein Besuch bringt Schrecken und Gefahren.
Ich fordere Geld mit drohendem Ton,
und hoffe auf Flucht als meinen Lohn.

Wer bin ich?
(Auflösung: Der Bankräuber)

(I come to the bank, but not to save,
my visit brings terror and makes brave.
I demand money with a threatening sound,
and hope for escape as my reward is found.

Who am I?
(Solution: The bank robber / Der Bankräuber))

🧩 Word Components & Trivia

The word 'Bankräuber' is a compound noun, composed of:

• Die Bank: The financial institution.
• Der Räuber: A robber, a person who takes someone else's property by force or threat of force.

Together, they form the specific meaning of a person who robs a bank.

Interestingly, the methods and public perception of Bankräuber are often subjects of films and books, sometimes romanticizing them, even though it's a serious crime.