die  Beichte

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈbaɪçtə/

✝️ What Exactly is a Beichte?

Die Beichte (noun, feminine) essentially refers to the confession of sins, usually in a religious context, especially within Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran churches) as part of the Sacrament of Penance (Bußsakrament).

It is an act where a person confesses their wrongdoings (Sünden) to a priest or another authorized person to obtain forgiveness (Vergebung).

In a broader, figurative sense, die Beichte can also mean an open admission of personal guilt, a mistake, or a secret outside of a purely religious setting.

Since the word ends in -e and describes an action or state, it is typically feminine, hence always die Beichte.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Beichte

The noun "Beichte" is feminine. The article is always die.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Er ging regelmäßig zur Beichte.
   He went to confession regularly.
2. Der Priester nahm ihm die Beichte ab.
   The priest heard his confession.
3. Nach langer Überlegung legte sie eine umfassende Beichte ab.
   After long consideration, she made a full confession (can also be used figuratively).
4. Die Erleichterung nach der Beichte war groß.
   The relief after the confession was great.

🗣️ How is "Beichte" Used?

The term die Beichte is primarily used in religious language:

• Sakrament der Beichte/Buße: (Sacrament of Confession/Penance) A central sacrament in the Catholic and Orthodox Church.
• Zur Beichte gehen: (To go to confession) The act of seeking out a priest to confess.
• Die Beichte ablegen/abnehmen: (To make/hear confession) Making the confession of sins (ablegen) or hearing the confession by the priest (abnehmen).

In a figurative sense, die Beichte describes an open, often difficult admission of mistakes or secrets, also in secular contexts:

• "Seine Rede vor Gericht war wie eine öffentliche Beichte." (His speech in court was like a public confession.)
• "Nach stundenlangem Zögern kam endlich die Beichte über den zerbrochenen Teller." (After hours of hesitation, the confession about the broken plate finally came.)

⚠️ Note: While "Geständnis" (confession, admission) can be more neutral (e.g., Liebesgeständnis - declaration of love), "Beichte" usually implies admitting something negative or forbidden (sin, mistake).

🧠 Mnemonics for Beichte

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -e that describe a process or state are feminine (die). Think: The sin (die Sünde) leads to the confession (die Beichte).

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone saying, "I must confess something *by* telling you my secret *here*." The sound *Bei-chte* might remind you of "by-(confessing)-here". Or think of 'be right' with God again after confession.

↔️ Opposites and Similarities

🚨 Potential Confusion

• Bericht (der): Sounds similar but means report or account (masculine article).
• Beichte vs. Gebet (das): Die Beichte is a specific act of confession, whereas das Gebet (prayer) is a general form of communication with God.

😄 A Little Joke

Ein Mann geht zur Beichte und sagt: "Herr Pfarrer, ich habe Kaugummi geklaut." Fragt der Pfarrer: "Wie viele denn?" Antwortet der Mann: "Eine ganze Packung." Sagt der Pfarrer: "Dafür musst du jetzt 5 Vaterunser beten." Der Mann geht weg und kommt nach fünf Minuten wieder. Fragt der Pfarrer: "Schon fertig?" Sagt der Mann: "Nein, aber ich habe jetzt auch noch dein Auto geklaut – dafür bete ich dann später!"

Translation: A man goes to confession and says, "Father, I stole chewing gum." The priest asks, "How many?" The man replies, "A whole pack." The priest says, "For that, you must now pray 5 Our Fathers." The man leaves and comes back five minutes later. The priest asks, "Finished already?" The man says, "No, but I've also stolen your car now – I'll pray for that later!"

✍️ Poem about Confession

Im Stillen kniend, Herz so schwer,
Die Beichte naht, ich fürcht' sie sehr.
Ein Flüstern nur, der Sünde Last,
Gehofft, dass Gott Vergebung fasst.
Ein Wort, ein Kreuz, die Schuld vergeht,
Erleichtert wird, wer offen fleht.

Translation:
Kneeling in silence, heart so heavy,
The confession nears, I fear it greatly.
Just a whisper, the burden of sin,
Hoping that God embraces forgiveness within.
A word, a cross, the guilt departs,
Relieved is the one who openly imparts (their plea).

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Wort, stets feminin,
Im Gotteshaus hab ich oft Sinn.
Man legt mich ab, wenn Schuld dich plagt,
Ein Priester hört, was man ihm sagt.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I am a word, always feminine,
In the house of God, I often have meaning.
You lay me down when guilt plagues you,
A priest listens to what is said to him.

What am I?

Solution: die Beichte (confession)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Word Origin: The word "Beichte" derives from the Old High German verb "bijehtan", meaning "to confess" or "to admit".

Related Verb: The corresponding verb is beichten (ich beichte, du beichtest, er/sie/es beichtet... - I confess, you confess, he/she/it confesses...).

Cultural Significance: Confession (die Beichte) plays an important role in many cultures concerning social and individual conscience and moral order.