der  Krimi

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkʁiːmi/

📖 What exactly is a Krimi?

The German word Krimi (masculine) is the colloquial short form for a Kriminalroman (crime novel) or a Kriminalfilm (crime film/movie). It refers to a story or film usually centered around a crime (like murder, robbery, kidnapping) and its investigation by a detective, commissioner, or another investigating person. Suspense is the key element of a Krimi.

Luckily, there's only one article for Krimi: der. That makes things easier! 😊

🧐 Grammar Check: Der Krimi

The word "Krimi" is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

• Der neue Krimi im Fernsehen war sehr spannend. (The new crime show on TV was very exciting.)
• Ich lese gerne Krimis vor dem Einschlafen. (I like reading crime novels before falling asleep.)
• Die Auflösung des Krimis war überraschend. (The resolution of the crime story was surprising.)
• Sie hat mir einen guten Krimi empfohlen. (She recommended a good crime novel/movie to me.)

💡 How to use "Krimi"?

"Krimi" is a very common word in everyday German when talking about books, movies, or TV series dealing with crime and investigation.

• Context: Leisure, entertainment, media (books, films, TV, audio plays).
• Distinction: While "Krimi" is the general term, more specific terms like "Thriller" (often more action/suspense-focused), "Detektivroman" (focus on the detective), or "Spionageroman" (spy novel) can be used. However, "Krimi" is the most common and general designation.
• Formal vs. Informal: "Krimi" leans towards colloquial but is widely accepted. In very formal or literary criticism contexts, one might prefer "Kriminalroman" or "Kriminalfilm".

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

• Article: Imagine a male detective solving the crime. He is DER Kommissar (the male commissioner). Male commissioner = masculine word = der Krimi.
• Meaning: Krimi sounds a bit like the English word "crime". A Krimi is about crime.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette keine Krimis mit in den Urlaub?
(Why don't skeletons take crime novels on vacation?)

Weil sie keine Nerven haben! 💀
(Because they don't have the nerves! / Because they have no nerves! - It's a pun, 'Nerven' means 'nerves' in both senses: courage and the biological tissue.)

✒️ Poem about the Krimi

Ein Schuss im Dunkeln, Schrei zerreißt die Nacht,
(A shot in the dark, a scream tears the night,)
Der Kommissar, er ist schon aufgewacht.
(The commissioner, he's already awake.)
Ein Rätsel, Spuren, falsch und fein,
(A riddle, clues, false and fine,)
Wer war der Täter? Wer kann es nur sein?
(Who was the culprit? Who could it be?)
Im Fernsehen fesselt mich der Krimi sehr,
(On TV, the Krimi captivates me much,)
Bis zur Auflösung, bitte sehr!
(Until the resolution, if you please!)

🕵️‍♀️ Who or What Am I?

Ich erzähl' von Mord und Diebeszügen,
(I tell of murder and thievery,)
von Detektiven, die niemals lügen (meistens).
(of detectives who never lie (mostly).)
Man liest mich gern, schaut mich im TV,
(People like to read me, watch me on TV,)
mal blutig, mal spannend, mal schlau.
(sometimes bloody, sometimes thrilling, sometimes clever.)

Was bin ich?
(What am I?)
(Solution: Der Krimi)

🧩 Other Trivia

• Word Origin: "Krimi" is a short form of "Kriminal..." (like Kriminalroman, Kriminalfilm, Kriminalpolizei - criminal police). The word "kriminell" (criminal) comes from the Latin word crimen (crime, accusation).
• Popularity: Krimis are one of the most popular genres in Germany, both in book form (especially 'Regionalkrimis' - regional crime novels set in specific German areas) and on television (e.g., the long-running series 'Tatort').