der  Kriminelle

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/kʁɪmɪˈnɛlə/

📖 What does 'der Kriminelle' mean?

Der Kriminelle refers to a male person who has committed one or more criminal offenses; a male criminal or offender.

It is a substantivized adjective (derived from kriminell - criminal). The gender is determined by the article:

• der Kriminelle: male criminal
• die Kriminelle: female criminal
• die Kriminellen: criminals (plural, both genders)

⚠️ Be careful to use the correct article and ending according to gender and case.

📊 Grammar of 'Kriminelle' in Detail

'Der Kriminelle' is a substantivized adjective and is declined accordingly. Since it's mostly used with an article word (like 'der', 'ein'), it usually follows the weak or mixed adjective declension.

Declension (Masculine - der Kriminelle)

Forms for Feminine and Plural

• Feminine Singular (weak): die Kriminelle, der Kriminellen, der Kriminellen, die Kriminelle
• Plural (weak): die Kriminellen, der Kriminellen, den Kriminellen, die Kriminellen

Example Sentences

• Der gesuchte Kriminelle konnte fliehen. (The wanted criminal was able to escape.)
• Die Polizei fahndet nach einem unbekannten Kriminellen. (The police are searching for an unknown criminal.)
• Das Gericht verurteilte den Kriminellen zu einer Haftstrafe. (The court sentenced the criminal to prison.)
• Die Aussagen des Kriminellen waren widersprüchlich. (The criminal's statements were contradictory.)

💡 How is 'der Kriminelle' used?

'Der Kriminelle' is often used in formal contexts such as news reports, police statements, or legal texts. It's a general term for a person who has broken the law.

• Context: Law, police, news, sociology.
• Distinction:
  • Verbrecher: Often used for more serious crimes, can be more emotionally charged.
  • Straftäter: More neutral, legal term.
  • Gauner, Ganove: More colloquial, often for thieves or fraudsters.
• Usage: Can refer to a specific, known person ('Der Kriminelle wurde gefasst.' - 'The criminal was caught.') or an unknown person ('Die Polizei sucht einen Kriminellen.' - 'The police are looking for a criminal.').

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Kriminelle'

Remembering the Article: Think of a 'man' committing a crime. A 'man' in German often relates to 'der' - so it's der Kriminelle for the male criminal.

Remembering the Meaning: The word sounds like 'criminal'. A Kriminelle(r) is simply a 'criminal'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Be mindful of connotation: The feel of the word can vary (e.g., 'Verbrecher' vs. 'Straftäter').

😄 A Little Joke

Richter: "Gestehen Sie, die Kasse im Supermarkt gestohlen zu haben?"
Angeklagter: "Ja, Herr Richter, aber mildernde Umstände bitte - ich habe versucht, sie zurückzubringen, aber sie war zu schwer!"

Translation:
Judge: "Do you confess to stealing the cash register from the supermarket?"
Defendant: "Yes, Your Honor, but please consider mitigating circumstances - I tried to bring it back, but it was too heavy!"

📜 Poem about the Criminal

Im Schatten schleicht, mit leisem Tritt,
Ein Mann, der Unrecht mit sich litt?
Nein, Unrecht tat, das ist's gewiss,
Der Kriminelle, im Finsternis.

Sein Weg ist krumm, das Ziel ist fern,
Vom rechten Pfad, vom hellen Stern.
Das Gesetz im Nacken, kalt und schwer,
Ein Leben voller Furcht und Wehr.

Translation:
In shadows creeps, with silent tread,
A man who suffered from misdeed?
No, did wrong, that is for sure,
The criminal, in dark obscure.

His path is crooked, the goal afar,
From the right way, from the bright star.
The law behind him, cold and stark,
A life full of fear and defensive mark.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich breche das Gesetz, nicht nur zum Spaß,
Manchmal aus Not, manchmal im Zornesmaß.
Die Polizei sucht mich bei Tag und Nacht,
Mein Name wird oft mit Furcht bedacht.
Bin ich ein Mann, wer bin ich dann?

Translation:
I break the law, not just for fun,
Sometimes from need, sometimes from anger spun.
The police search for me day and night,
My name is often thought of with fright.
If I am a man, who am I then?

(Answer: der Kriminelle / the male criminal)

🧩 Other Information

• Word Origin: The word comes from the adjective 'kriminell' (criminal), which in turn comes from the Latin 'criminalis' (criminal), related to 'crimen' (crime, accusation).
• Substantivization: 'Kriminelle(r)' is a classic example of the substantivization of adjectives in German, where an adjective is used and declined like a noun.