die  Untreue

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʊntʁɔʏ̯ə/

💔 What does 'die Untreue' mean?

Die Untreue is a feminine noun (Substantiv) describing various forms of breach of trust or disloyalty. It primarily has two meanings:

1. In personal relationships: Here, die Untreue usually means the breach of sexual or emotional fidelity in a partnership, i.e., adultery or cheating. It describes a lack of loyalty and sincerity towards a partner.
2. In a legal or business context: Here, die Untreue refers to a criminal offense (§ 266 StGB in Germany), specifically breach of trust or embezzlement. It involves the misuse of power over someone else's assets to the detriment of the principal, e.g., embezzling company funds by a manager. ⚠️ This is a specific legal meaning.

Generally, die Untreue expresses a lack of Treue (loyalty, fidelity).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Untreue' under the microscope

Die Untreue is a feminine noun. It's mostly used in the singular as it often describes an abstract concept. The plural (die Untreuen) is rare and typically refers to specific acts of infidelity or disloyalty.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - Rare

Example Sentences

• Personal: Seine Untreue hat ihre Ehe zerstört.
  (His infidelity destroyed their marriage.)
• Personal: Sie konnte ihm seine wiederholten Untreuen nicht verzeihen.
  (She couldn't forgive him for his repeated acts of infidelity.)
• Legal: Dem Manager wurde Untreue vorgeworfen, weil er Firmengelder veruntreut hatte.
  (The manager was accused of breach of trust because he had embezzled company funds.)
• General: Untreue ist ein schwerer Vertrauensbruch.
  (Disloyalty/Infidelity is a serious breach of trust.)

💡 How 'die Untreue' is used

The use of die Untreue strongly depends on the context:

• In relationships: This is the common word for cheating or adultery. It carries a strong negative, emotional connotation. Synonyms like Seitensprung (fling) or Affäre (affair) are often more specific.
• In business / law: Here, it's a technical term for a specific criminal offense (financial crime). It describes the abuse of positions of trust for personal gain or to the detriment of others' assets. The term Veruntreuung (embezzlement) is similar but often legally more specific.
• General: One can also speak of politische Untreue (political disloyalty, e.g., to principles or voters) or Untreue towards friends, although terms like Treulosigkeit (faithlessness) or Verrat (betrayal) are more common here.

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to avoid misunderstandings. The emotional meaning (relationships) is more common in everyday life, but the legal meaning is very important.

🧠 Mnemonics for Untreue

For the article 'die': Remember that many abstract concepts related to negative qualities or societal issues in German are feminine, like die Lüge (the lie), die Schuld (the guilt), die Sünde (the sin). Infidelity is often seen negatively, so associate it with these feminine nouns -> die Untreue.

For the meaning: The word contains "un-" (not) and "Treue" (fidelity, loyalty). Someone who is untreu is not showing Treue. Simply put: Un-true = Not loyal/faithful = Untreue.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Similar words (Beware of confusion): Ungetreue (used as a declined adjective, e.g., der ungetreue Ehemann - the unfaithful husband).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie das Geld Ihrer Firma veruntreut?" Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Herr Richter, das Geld war doch nicht treu - es wollte immer weg von mir! Da dachte ich, ich helfe ihm dabei."

Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you embezzle your company's money?" The defendant replies: "Your Honor, the money wasn't loyal ('treu') - it always wanted to get away from me! So I thought I'd help it along." (This is a pun on 'treu' meaning loyal/faithful).

✍️ Poem about Untreue

Ein leises Wort, ein Blick zu viel,
Ein Bruch im einst so festen Stil.
Die Untreue, kalt und leis,
Zerreißt das Band auf ihre Weis'.

Vertrauen schwindet, wird zu Staub,
Was Liebe war, ist nun geraubt.
Ein Schatten legt sich auf das Herz,
Zurück bleibt nur der tiefe Schmerz.

Translation:
A quiet word, a glance too much,
A break in what once held a steady touch.
Infidelity ('die Untreue'), cold and slight,
Tears the bond with all its might.

Trust fades away, turns into dust,
What once was love is now but rust.
A shadow falls upon the heart,
Leaving only deepest hurt.

🕵️‍♀️ Little Riddle

Ich breche Herzen und Gesetze gern,
Halte Versprechen oft sehr fern.
Mal bin ich heimlich, mal ein Skandal,
In Liebe und Geschäft – fatal.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I like to break hearts and laws,
Keeping promises often paused.
Sometimes secret, sometimes scandal's call,
In love and business – fatal to all.

What am I?

Solution: die Untreue (infidelity / disloyalty / breach of trust)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition: The word Untreue is a noun formed from the prefix un- (negation, 'not') and the noun Treue (fidelity, loyalty). So it literally means "non-loyalty" or "un-faithfulness".

Cultural Aspects: The concept of Untreue and how it's judged has changed culturally and historically. What is considered infidelity today might not have been in the past – or vice versa.