die
Täterin
🕵️♀️ What does "die Täterin" mean?
The word die Täterin refers to a female person who has committed a crime (Straftat), an unlawful act (rechtswidrige Handlung), or a generally reprehensible deed (verwerfliche Tat). It is the feminine form of the word der Täter (the male perpetrator/offender).
It is used when the gender of the person acting is known to be female, or when specifically referring to a female person.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Women → almost always feminine.
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.
-in → mostly feminine.
All persons and professions ending in -in are feminine. Other -in nouns can be der/die/das.
🧐 Grammar of "die Täterin" in Detail
Die Täterin is a feminine noun. The article is always "die".
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Täterin |
| Genitive | der | Täterin |
| Dative | der | Täterin |
| Accusative | die | Täterin |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Täterinnen |
| Genitive | der | Täterinnen |
| Dative | den | Täterinnen |
| Accusative | die | Täterinnen |
Example Sentences 📝
- Die Polizei sucht nach der Täterin des Einbruchs.
(The police are looking for the female perpetrator of the burglary.) - Das Opfer konnte die Täterin eindeutig identifizieren.
(The victim could clearly identify the female perpetrator.) - Es gab zwei Täterinnen, die gemeinsam handelten.
(There were two female perpetrators who acted together.) - Der Richter verurteilte die Täterin zu einer Haftstrafe.
(The judge sentenced the female perpetrator to prison.)
📌 How is "die Täterin" used?
The term die Täterin is primarily used in contexts related to crime, law, and misconduct.
- Legal Context: In court proceedings (Gerichtsverfahren), police reports (Polizeiberichte), and legal texts to refer to a female accused or convicted person.
- Media Reporting: In news and articles about crimes where the person involved is female.
- Everyday Language: Less common, but possible, to describe a woman who did something (morally) wrong, even if it's not a crime in the legal sense (e.g., "Sie war die Täterin, die das Gerücht verbreitet hat." - She was the culprit who spread the rumor.).
Important: Whenever a male person is meant, or the gender is unknown or irrelevant and a generic form is used, der Täter is used. However, modern language often attempts to mention both forms (Täterinnen und Täter) or find gender-neutral formulations when referring to mixed groups.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Täterin"
Article Mnemonic: Feminine nouns referring to people often end in "-in" in German, like Königin (queen), Lehrerin (female teacher), Ärztin (female doctor) – and also Täterin. This ending clearly signals the article die.
Meaning Mnemonic: A Täterin commits a Tat (deed, act). The word "Tat" is almost inside it. Imagine a woman (because of "-in") performing a forbidden Tat.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Verbrecherin: Female criminal (often implies a more serious crime).
- Schuldige: The guilty one (female).
- Delinquentin: Female delinquent (more technical term).
- Straftäterin: Female offender (legal term).
Antonyms (Opposites)
- Opfer: Victim (person harmed by the Täterin's actions).
- Unschuldige: The innocent one (female).
- Zeugin: Female witness (person who observed the act).
⚠️ Note: The word "Missetäterin" is outdated but also means female evildoer.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Richter die Angeklagte: "Warum haben Sie die Keksdose gestohlen?"
Antwortet die Täterin: "Ich hatte Hunger, Herr Richter!"
Richter: "Aber da waren doch nur Nähsachen drin!"
Täterin: "Ja, für mein Loch im Bauch!"
Translation:
The judge asks the defendant (female): "Why did you steal the cookie jar?"
The Täterin replies: "I was hungry, Your Honor!"
Judge: "But there was only sewing stuff inside!"
Täterin: "Yes, for the hole in my stomach!" (A play on words, 'Loch im Bauch haben' can mean being very hungry)
✍️ Poem about the Täterin
Im Schatten schleicht, mit leisem Tritt,
Die Täterin, die Unrecht litt?
Nein, Unrecht tat, mit kühlem Sinn,
Nun sucht man sie, die Schuldnerin.
Ihr Plan ging auf, doch nicht ganz dicht,
Das Licht der Wahrheit bricht Gericht.
Translation:
In shadow creeps, with silent step,
The female perpetrator, who suffered wrong?
No, did wrong, with a cool mind,
Now she is sought, the debtor (female) of guilt.
Her plan succeeded, but not quite sound,
The light of truth brings judgment down.
❓ Riddle
Ich bin weiblich und habe gehandelt,
doch meine Tat war nicht gewandelt
in Gutes, nein, sie brachte Leid.
Gesetz und Ordnung suchen mich weit.
Mein männliches Pendant ist bekannt,
doch ich bin's, die hier wird genannt.
Wer bin ich? (Who am I?)
Lösung/Solution: die Täterin (the female perpetrator)
💡 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Täterin" is derived from the masculine word "Täter". This, in turn, comes from the verb "tun" (to do) or the noun "Tat" (deed, act).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Täterin?
The noun "Täterin" is feminine, so the correct article is always die. It refers to a female perpetrator or offender, someone who has committed a crime or a reprehensible act.