die /
der
Beklagte
🏛️ What does “Beklagte” mean?
The word Beklagte is a nominalized past participle of the German verb beklagen (to lament, complain about, sue). It refers to a person against whom a lawsuit is filed in a civil case. It has two grammatical genders:
- die Beklagte: Refers to a female person being sued (defendant).
- der Beklagte: Refers to a male person being sued (defendant).
So, this is the person from whom the Kläger (plaintiff, the person filing the suit) demands something (e.g., money, an action, refraining from an action).
⚠️ Important Note: In criminal law (Strafrecht), the term usually used is Angeklagte(r) (the accused). The term „Beklagte(r)“ is primarily used in civil law (Zivilrecht).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: die/der Beklagte
“Beklagte” is a nominalized adjective (specifically, a past participle) which follows the weak declension pattern when preceded by a definite article (like 'der', 'die') or another determiner with an ending.
Declension: die Beklagte (feminine)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Beklagte | eine Beklagte (a female defendant) |
| Genitive | der Beklagten | einer Beklagten (of a female defendant) |
| Dative | der Beklagten | einer Beklagten (to/for a female defendant) |
| Accusative | die Beklagte | eine Beklagte (a female defendant) |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Beklagten (the defendants) | - Beklagte (defendants) |
| Genitive | der Beklagten (of the defendants) | - Beklagter (of defendants) |
| Dative | den Beklagten (to/for the defendants) | - Beklagten (to/for defendants) |
| Accusative | die Beklagten (the defendants) | - Beklagte (defendants) |
Declension: der Beklagte (masculine)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Beklagte (the male defendant) | ein Beklagter (a male defendant) |
| Genitive | des Beklagten (of the male defendant) | eines Beklagten (of a male defendant) |
| Dative | dem Beklagten (to/for the male defendant) | einem Beklagten (to/for a male defendant) |
| Accusative | den Beklagten (the male defendant) | einen Beklagten (a male defendant) |
(The plural form is identical to the feminine plural above.)
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Beklagte erschien pünktlich zur Gerichtsverhandlung. (The female defendant appeared punctually for the court hearing.)
- Das Gericht gab dem Antrag des Beklagten statt. (The court granted the motion of the male defendant.)
- Der Richter stellte der Beklagten mehrere Fragen. (The judge asked the female defendant several questions.)
- Der Anwalt vertritt den Beklagten in diesem Fall. (The lawyer represents the male defendant in this case.)
- Die Vorladungen wurden an beide Beklagte (Plural) versandt. (The summonses were sent to both defendants.)
✍️ Application and Context
The term Beklagte(r) is firmly established in legal German, especially in civil procedure law (Zivilprozessrecht). Here are some typical contexts:
- Court proceedings: The central role in the trial alongside the Kläger (plaintiff).
- Legal documents: In statements of claim (Klageschriften), judgments (Urteilen), and other legal documents, the person is referred to as „der Beklagte“ or „die Beklagte“.
- Legal science: In law textbooks and articles for analyzing cases.
Distinction from Angeklagte(r):
It's crucial to distinguish Beklagte(r) from Angeklagte(r):
- Beklagte(r): Person against whom a civil lawsuit is directed (e.g., for damages, payment, injunction). => Defendant in a civil case.
- Angeklagte(r): Person accused of a crime in a criminal trial against whom charges have been brought. => Accused or defendant in a criminal case.
Using the wrong term can lead to misunderstandings as the type of procedure (civil vs. criminal) is different.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
For Article/Gender:
Imagine: Die Klage (the lawsuit - feminine) is against die Frau (the woman). Der Kläger (the plaintiff - masculine) sues den Mann (accusative case of 'der Mann'). The articles follow the natural gender of the person in the legal dispute.
For the Meaning:
Someone is beklagen-ing (complaining about/suing) you in court – you are the one being complained about, the Beklagte(r). It's the person the complaint (Klage) is about.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Prozessgegner(in): General term for the opposing party in a lawsuit.
- Antragsgegner(in): Specifically used in certain types of proceedings (e.g., family law, administrative procedure) where a motion (Antrag) is filed instead of a lawsuit (Klage). => Respondent.
- Verklagte(r) / Verklagte: More colloquial but understandable; literally 'the sued one'.
Antonyms (opposite):
- Kläger(in): The person who files the lawsuit in a civil case. => Plaintiff, claimant.
- Antragsteller(in): The person who files a motion in certain proceedings. => Applicant, petitioner.
⚠️ Similar but distinct terms:
- Angeklagte(r): The accused person in a criminal trial (not civil!).
- Beschuldigte(r): The suspect in a criminal investigation (before formal charges are filed).
- Betroffene(r): The person involved in proceedings for a regulatory offense (Ordnungswidrigkeit).
😄 A Little Joke
Richter zum Beklagten: „Sie sind angeklagt, Ihren Nachbarn mit einem Stuhlbein erschlagen zu haben.“
Beklagter: „Aber Herr Richter, es war doch sein Stuhl!“
Judge to the defendant: "You are accused of having killed your neighbour with a chair leg."
Defendant: "But Your Honour, it was his chair!"
(Note: Technically, „Angeklagter“ would be more correct here since it involves a crime, but the joke plays on the court situation.)
📜 A Little Poem
Im Saale sitzt, mit ernster Miene,
die Beklagte, auf dass sie diene
Der Wahrheit und dem Recht zur Ehr',
Auch wenn die Klage wiegt so schwer.
Und nebenan, nicht minder bang,
der Beklagte hört den Klang
Der Worte, die der Kläger spricht,
Und hofft auf ein gerechtes Licht.
In the hall she sits, with serious face,
the female defendant, hoping to serve grace
To truth and justice, for honour's sake,
Even though the lawsuit makes her ache.
And next door, no less filled with dread,
the male defendant hears what's said
By the plaintiff's words, a heavy sound,
And hopes for justice to be found.
❓ Riddle
Ich stehe vor Gericht, doch bin nicht Kläger.
Man fordert etwas, ich bin der „Träger“
Der Last der Klage, ob Mann ob Frau,
Im Zivilprozess schaut man genau.
Wer bin ich?
I stand in court, but I'm not the plaintiff.
Something is demanded, I'm the 'bearer'
Of the lawsuit's burden, whether man or woman,
In civil proceedings, they watch closely.
Who am I?
(Solution: der Beklagte / die Beklagte - the defendant)
💡 More Information
Word Origin (Wortherkunft):
„Beklagte(r)“ derives directly from the verb beklagen. Originally, „beklagen“ meant not only 'to lament' or 'mourn' but also 'to accuse someone in court' or 'to complain about someone'. The '-te' ending signals the past participle (Partizip Perfekt), which has been nominalized here, similar to „Angestellte(r)“ (employee) from anstellen (to employ).
Gender-Specific Language (Gendergerechte Sprache):
The distinction between „der Beklagte“ and „die Beklagte“ is an example of the traditional explicit marking of gender in German personal nouns derived from adjectives/participles.
📝 Summary: is it der or die Beklagte?
The word 'Beklagte' refers to a person being sued in a civil case (defendant). Use die Beklagte for a female defendant and der Beklagte for a male defendant. It's a nominalized past participle.