der  Diebstahl

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈdiːpʃtahl/

🕵️ What Exactly is 'der Diebstahl'?

Der Diebstahl (noun, masculine) refers to the unlawful taking of movable property belonging to another person with the intention of appropriating it for oneself or a third party. In *English*, this is known as theft. It's a property crime regulated in the German Criminal Code (*Strafgesetzbuch*, StGB § 242).

Basically, it means stealing something that doesn't belong to you. The word always uses the article der.

• Einfacher Diebstahl (Simple theft): Taking property without use of force or special circumstances (e.g., *Taschendiebstahl* - pickpocketing, *Ladendiebstahl* - shoplifting).
• Schwerer Diebstahl (Aggravated theft): Occurs when specific aggravating circumstances are present (e.g., *Einbruchdiebstahl* - burglary involving theft, theft involving weapons).

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse der Diebstahl (theft) with der Raub (robbery). *Raub* involves the use of force or threat against a person, whereas *Diebstahl* is 'just' the taking of an object.

✍️ Grammar in Detail: Der Diebstahl

The noun "Diebstahl" is masculine. Here is its declension:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences

1. Der Diebstahl wurde sofort der Polizei gemeldet. (The theft was immediately reported to the police.)
2. Er wurde des Diebstahls überführt. (He was convicted of the theft.)
3. Man konnte ihm den Diebstahl nicht nachweisen. (They couldn't prove he committed the theft.)
4. Die Polizei untersucht mehrere Diebstähle in der Gegend. (The police are investigating several thefts in the area.)
5. Wegen wiederholter Diebstähle wurde er verurteilt. (He was sentenced because of repeated thefts.)

🏃‍♂️ When to Use 'Diebstahl'?

"Der Diebstahl" is primarily used in legal and police contexts, but also in everyday language to describe the act of stealing items.

• Legal Context: In indictments, judgments, police reports ("Anzeige wegen Diebstahls" - reporting a theft).
• Everyday Language: When talking about a crime ("Der Diebstahl meines Fahrrads ärgert mich sehr." - The theft of my bicycle annoys me a lot.) or about preventive measures ("Sicherung gegen Diebstahl" - protection against theft).
• Distinction: It's important to distinguish *Diebstahl* (secretive taking) from *Raub* (taking with force/threat). For minor, often spontaneous thefts, the colloquial term "Klau" is sometimes used (e.g., "Der Klau des Kulis war unnötig." - Stealing the pen was unnecessary.), but this is less formal.

The term covers a range of acts, from simple *Ladendiebstahl* (shoplifting) to complex *Kunstdiebstahl* (art theft).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Remembering the Article 'der':

Think of der Dieb (the thief, masculine). *Der Dieb* commits den Diebstahl (the theft, accusative case, masculine object). Both are *masculine*!

Remembering the Meaning 'theft':

Imagine a deep voice saying "Stall!" as someone tries to steal something from a horse stall. A bit silly, but Dieb-stahl sounds like "deep stall" and relates to stopping someone stealing. Or, think of the parts: *Dieb* (thief) + *stahl* (related to 'stehlen' - to steal). It's the *act* of the thief.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

🚨 Risk of Confusion:

• Raub (Robbery): As mentioned, *Raub* involves force or threat, *Diebstahl* does not.
• Betrug (Fraud/Deception): Here, someone is tricked into giving up their property voluntarily through deception.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum nehmen Skelette nie etwas mit?
... Weil sie keinen Dieb-Stahl haben, um es zu tragen!

English: Why do skeletons never take anything with them?
... Because they don't have the *body* (pun on Dieb-Stahl/body steel or structure) to carry it!

(This is a pun playing on 'Diebstahl' and the idea of skeletons lacking body/physical means, 'Stahl' also meaning steel).

📜 A Short Poem

German:
Leise schleicht die dunkle Hand,
nimmt, was fest im Besitz man fand.
Ein schneller Griff, ein kurzer Blick,
der Diebstahl lässt nur Leere zurück.
Doch Unrecht währt nicht ewiglich,
das Recht, es findet sicherlich!

English Translation:
Silently creeps the dark hand,
takes what was firmly owned in the land.
A quick grab, a brief glance near,
the theft leaves only emptiness here.
But injustice does not last eternally,
the law will find it, certainly!

🤔 Little Riddle

German:
Ich bin eine Tat, nicht schön, nicht fein,
ich nehme dir, was gestern war dein.
Ich komme heimlich, ohne Gewalt,
bin im Gesetzbuch kalt und alt.

Was bin ich?

English:
I am an act, not nice, not fine,
I take from you what yesterday was thine.
I come in secret, without might,
In the law books, I'm old and quite.

What am I?

Solution: der Diebstahl (theft)

🧐 Other Interesting Information

Word Origin (Etymology):

The word "Diebstahl" is composed of:

• Dieb: Thief (from Old High German diob).
• Stahl: Related to the verb 'stehlen' (to steal, from Old High German stelan). Here used as a nominalizing suffix indicating the action.

So, it literally describes the "act of stealing by a thief".

Legal Aspect:

In *Germany*, theft (*Diebstahl*) is defined in Section 242 of the Criminal Code (*Strafgesetzbuch* - StGB). Depending on the value of the stolen item and the circumstances of the crime, punishment can range from a fine to several years of imprisonment.