die  Verurteilung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ʔuːɐ̯ˈtaɪ̯lʊŋ/

⚖️ What does "die Verurteilung" mean?

Die Verurteilung (feminine) is a noun primarily meaning:

• In a legal sense: The formal act or result of a court proceeding where a person is found guilty and sentenced. This is the most common meaning. Synonyms include Schuldspruch (verdict of guilty) or Urteil (judgment, specifically a guilty verdict).
• In a moral or social sense: A strong rejection or disapproval of an action or person; a condemnation. This refers less to a court and more to a societal or personal judgment.

🚨 It's important to consider the context to understand whether a legal or moral Verurteilung is meant.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Verurteilung

The word "Verurteilung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

Declension

Nouns ending in -ung are feminine and follow a standard declension pattern.

Example Sentences

1. Die Verurteilung des Angeklagten erfolgte nach einem langen Prozess.
   (The conviction of the defendant occurred after a long trial.) [Legal]
2. Seine scharfe Verurteilung dieses Verhaltens überraschte niemanden.
   (His sharp condemnation of this behavior surprised no one.) [Moral]
3. Nach der Verurteilung musste er eine hohe Geldstrafe zahlen.
   (After the conviction, he had to pay a hefty fine.) [Legal]
4. Die öffentliche Verurteilung lastete schwer auf ihm.
   (The public condemnation weighed heavily on him.) [Moral/Social]

💡 When to use "die Verurteilung"?

The term die Verurteilung is used depending on the context:

• Legal Context: In news reports, court reporting, legal texts when discussing criminal proceedings and their outcomes. E.g.: "Die Verurteilung wegen Diebstahls" (The conviction for theft), "eine Verurteilung zu fünf Jahren Haft" (a sentence of five years imprisonment).
• Moral/Social Context: In discussions about ethics, social norms, expressions of opinion, criticism. E.g.: "die moralische Verurteilung von Korruption" (the moral condemnation of corruption), "die scharfe Verurteilung seiner Äußerungen durch die Presse" (the press's sharp condemnation of his statements).

Distinction from similar words:

• Urteil (judgment, verdict): Can be more neutral (e.g., to pass judgment) or can also be an acquittal. Verurteilung always implies a guilty verdict or negative assessment.
• Anklage (charge, indictment): The formal accusation before the trial. The Verurteilung is the result after the trial (if found guilty).
• Kritik (criticism): A negative evaluation, but usually less severe and final than a Verurteilung (especially in the moral sense).

🧠 Mnemonics for Verurteilung

For the article 'die': Remember that German nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine ('die'). Think of other -ung words: die Meinung (opinion), die Hoffnung (hope), die Bedeutung (meaning)... and die Verurteilung. The -ung ending is your signal for 'die'!

For the meaning: Imagine a judge (or society) pointing a finger and declaring a verdict ('Urteil' in German) that is condemning. The 'Ver-' prefix often implies something going wrong or becoming final. So, Ver-URTEIL-ung is the final, often negative, judgment or conviction. Think 'Verdict-Urteil-ung'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful with Beurteilung (assessment, evaluation): This can be positive, negative, or neutral, whereas Verurteilung is almost always negative.

😄 A Little Joke

Richter zum Angeklagten: "Haben Sie etwas zu Ihrer Verteidigung zu sagen?"
Angeklagter: "Ja, Herr Richter! Ich plädiere auf eine milde Verurteilung – ich habe nämlich Höhenangst und möchte nicht so lange sitzen!"

Translation:
Judge to the defendant: "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Defendant: "Yes, Your Honor! I plead for a light sentence (mild conviction) – you see, I have a fear of heights and don't want to sit [serve time] for so long!" (A pun on 'sitzen' meaning both 'to sit' and 'to serve time in prison', and linking long sentence = high up).

📜 Poem about Verurteilung

Im Saal das Schweigen, schwer und dicht,
der Hammer fällt, bricht das Gericht.
Die Verurteilung, klares Wort,
trägt Schuld und Sühne an den Ort.

Doch auch im Herzen, leis und kalt,
ein Urteil oft Gestalt annimmt bald.
Verurteilung, die stumm verdammt,
bevor das Warum wird genannt.

Translation:
In the hall the silence, heavy and dense,
The gavel falls, the court breaks [dispenses justice].
The conviction, a clear word,
Brings guilt and atonement to the place.

But also in the heart, quiet and cold,
A judgment often soon takes hold.
Condemnation, that silently damns,
Before the why is ever named.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin das Ende eines Streits vor Schranken,
manchmal bring ich Menschen hinter Gitter oder Schranken.
Ich kann moralisch sein, ganz ohne Richterspruch,
und doch wiegt mein Urteil schwer, ein Bann, ein Fluch.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I am the end of a dispute before the bar,
Sometimes I put people behind bars or barriers.
I can be moral, without any judge's ruling,
And yet my judgment weighs heavily, a ban, a curse.

What am I?
(Solution: die Verurteilung)

🧩 More Information

Word Composition

The word "Verurteilung" is derived from the verb urteilen (to judge).

• ur + teilen: Originally, "urteilen" meant something like "to allot" or "to decide".
• ver-: The prefix "ver-" can indicate completion or intensification here, or sometimes a negative turn (as in "verlieren" - to lose, "verraten" - to betray). With judging, it often leads to establishing guilt.
• -ung: The suffix "-ung" turns the verb into a noun (nominalization), denoting the process or result of judging. It makes the word feminine (die).

Thus, Verurteilung describes the result or act of (negative) judgment or conviction.