der
Verbrecher
🕵️♂️ What Exactly is a Verbrecher?
A der Verbrecher is a person (typically male; the female form is die Verbrecherin) who has committed a Verbrechen (a crime), specifically a serious offense or felony. The word is often used in legal contexts, news reports, and sometimes colloquially.
It refers to someone who has broken the law and can be punished for it. The term implies a certain severity of the act, distinguishing it from minor offenses (Ordnungswidrigkeiten).
⚠️ Caution: The term can be stigmatizing and should be used thoughtfully.
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.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar: The Case of the Verbrecher
"Verbrecher" is a masculine noun belonging to the weak N-declension. This means it takes the ending -(e)n in all cases except the nominative singular.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Verbrecher |
| Genitive | des | Verbrechers |
| Dative | dem | Verbrecher |
| Accusative | den | Verbrecher |
🚨 Exception: In the genitive singular, the strong ending -s (des Verbrechers) is commonly used, even though it formally belongs to the N-declension. The weak form (des Verbrechern) is rare and considered archaic or very formal.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verbrecher |
| Genitive | der | Verbrecher |
| Dative | den | Verbrechern |
| Accusative | die | Verbrecher |
💡 Note: The plural form is identical to the nominative singular in the nominative, genitive, and accusative cases. Only the dative plural adds an -n.
Example Sentences
- Die Polizei fasste den Verbrecher auf frischer Tat. (The police caught the criminal red-handed. - Accusative Singular)
- Das ist die Aussage des Verbrechers. (That is the statement of the criminal. - Genitive Singular)
- Man sollte nicht jedem Gerücht über den Verbrecher Glauben schenken. (One shouldn't believe every rumor about the criminal. - Dative Singular)
- Viele Verbrecher wurden zu langen Haftstrafen verurteilt. (Many criminals were sentenced to long prison terms. - Nominative Plural)
- Die Beute wurde unter den Verbrechern aufgeteilt. (The loot was divided among the criminals. - Dative Plural)
🗣️ How to Use "Verbrecher"?
The term "Verbrecher" is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Justice and Police: In official reports, indictments, or wanted notices.
- Media: In news articles or documentaries about crime.
- Colloquial Speech: Sometimes exaggeratedly or humorously for someone who did something naughty or against the rules (e.g., a child stealing cookies), but be careful: the word usually has a very negative connotation.
Distinction from other terms:
- Straftäter: A more general term for someone who committed a criminal offense (can include minor offenses).
- Krimineller: Very similar to Verbrecher, often used synonymously.
- Angeklagter / Beschuldigter: A person suspected of having committed a crime but not yet convicted (accused / defendant).
- Verurteilter: A person whose guilt has been established by a court (convict).
The word derives from the verb verbrechen, meaning "to commit a crime".
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Verbrecher"
For the article: Think of a typical 'bad guy', a male person. Most generic terms for perpetrators in German are masculine: der Täter (perpetrator), der Dieb (thief), der Mörder (murderer), der Betrüger (fraudster) – and also der Verbrecher.
For the meaning: A Verbrecher is someone who breaks (bricht) the law. They 'break' the rules of society.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Straftäter: (more general) Someone who committed a punishable act.
- Krimineller: Very similar, often interchangeable (criminal).
- Ganove: (more colloquial) Crook, rogue.
- Übeltäter: Evildoer, wrongdoer.
- Delinquent: (more technical/formal) Offender.
- Schwerverbrecher: Emphasizes particularly serious crimes (felon).
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Opfer: Victim.
- Gesetzeshüter: Law enforcement officer (lit. 'law keeper').
- Polizist / Polizistin: Police officer (m/f).
- Unschuldiger / Unschuldige: Innocent person (m/f).
- Musterschüler / Musterbürger: (figurative) Model student / model citizen.
⚠️ Beware of confusion: Do not confuse with Verbraucher (consumer) or Verbreiter (someone who spreads something).
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie das Auto gestohlen?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Ich musste schnell zum Gericht, Herr Richter!"
EN: The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you steal the car?"
The defendant replies: "I had to get to court quickly, Your Honor!"
📜 A Poem About the Shadow
DE:
Im Dunkel schleicht, mit leisem Tritt,
Der Verbrecher, nimmt Gesetze nicht mit.
Sein Weg ist krumm, sein Ziel ist Nacht,
Hat selten an das Recht gedacht.
Doch Justitias Waage, klar und rein,
Holt jeden Schatten irgendwann ein.
EN:
In darkness creeps, with silent tread,
The criminal, ignores laws instead.
His path is crooked, his goal is night,
Rarely considered what is right.
But Justice's scales, clear and pure,
Catch every shadow, that's for sure.
❓ Little Riddle
DE:
Ich breche das Gesetz, nicht nur ein Gebot,
Bin oft im Schatten, fürchte das Licht so rot.
Man jagt mich, man fängt mich, sperrt mich oft ein,
Wer bin ich, sag schnell, und sei nicht zu klein?
EN:
I break the law, not just a decree,
Often in shadow, fear the light, you see.
They hunt me, they catch me, lock me away,
Who am I? Tell me quickly, don't delay!
Solution: Der Verbrecher (The Criminal)
💡 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Verbrecher" is derived from the verb verbrechen (to commit a crime). The verb itself is composed of the prefix ver- (often with a negative or misguided connotation) and the verb brechen (to break). So, a Verbrecher is literally someone who breaks something (the law, rules).
Cultural Aspects:
The figure of the Verbrecher is a common motif in literature, film, and television, often romanticized (e.g., the noble robber) or demonized. Its portrayal has changed over the centuries.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verbrecher?
The word "Verbrecher" is masculine, so the correct article is der Verbrecher. It refers to a person who has committed a crime (a criminal) and belongs to the N-declension (with an exception in the genitive singular).