die  Zeugin

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈt͡sɔʏ̯ɡɪn/

📖 What does "die Zeugin" mean?

Die Zeugin (noun, feminine) refers to a female person who has observed an event, particularly a crime or a legally relevant incident, and can provide information about it. It's the feminine counterpart to der Zeuge (the male witness).

• Main meaning: A woman who testifies or can testify to something, often in a legal sense in court or to the police.
• Derived forms: Augenzeugin (eyewitness - she saw it herself), Kronzeugin (chief witness, key witness).

⚠️ Important: In a legal context, the testimony (die Aussage) of a Zeugin is crucial for establishing the truth.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Zeugin" in Detail

The word "Zeugin" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences

1. Die Zeugin beschrieb den Tathergang sehr genau.
   (The female witness described the course of events very precisely.)
2. Das Gericht hörte die Aussage der Zeugin aufmerksam an.
   (The court listened attentively to the female witness's testimony.)
3. Der Anwalt stellte der Zeugin viele Fragen.
   (The lawyer asked the female witness many questions.)
4. Die Polizei befragte die Zeugin noch am Tatort.
   (The police questioned the female witness at the crime scene.)
5. Mehrere Zeuginnen bestätigten die Beobachtung.
   (Several female witnesses confirmed the observation.)

🗣️ How is "die Zeugin" used?

The term die Zeugin is primarily used in the following contexts:

• Law and Justice: This is the most common use. A Zeugin testifies (sagt aus) in court (vor Gericht), to the police (bei der Polizei), or to a lawyer (bei einem Anwalt). (Example: Die Zeugin wurde in den Zeugenstand gerufen. - The female witness was called to the witness stand.)
• General Observation: Less commonly, it can refer to a woman who simply observed any event. (Example: Sie war Zeugin eines Streits auf der Straße. - She was a witness to an argument on the street.)
• Figuratively: Sometimes used metaphorically, e.g., "Zeugin der Zeitgeschichte" (witness to contemporary history).

Distinction from der Zeuge: "Die Zeugin" explicitly refers to a female person, while "der Zeuge" is the male form. Legal language sometimes attempts gender-neutral phrasing (e.g., "die zeugende Person" - the testifying person), but "Zeugin" remains standard for women.

💡 Mnemonics for "die Zeugin"

Article Mnemonic: Remember: A Zeugin is a female person, and female persons often take the article "die" in German. The suffix "-in" almost always signals a feminine noun.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a female witness has seen something important. She 'shows' (related to the German verb zeigen, which is linked to Zeuge/Zeugin) what happened with her testimony.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

🚨 Caution: A Sachverständige is a (female) expert witness, not a witness in the traditional sense. She testifies based on her expertise, not necessarily on observation of the event itself.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter die Zeugin: "Sie sind sich sicher, dass der Angeklagte Ihnen die Handtasche entrissen hat?"
Sagt die Zeugin: "Naja, nachdem er weg war, war meine Handtasche jedenfalls nicht mehr da, und er rannte sehr schnell... Aber seine Laufschuhe waren wirklich topmodisch!"

(Judge asks the witness: "Are you sure the defendant snatched your handbag?"
The witness says: "Well, after he was gone, my handbag certainly wasn't there anymore, and he ran very fast... But his running shoes were really fashionable!")

✍️ Poem about the Zeugin

Im Saal herrscht Stille, angespannt,
Die Zeugin tritt in den Stand.
Ihre Worte klar und fest,
geben dem Geschehen den Rest.
Sie sah es deutlich, hörte viel,
Wahrheit ist ihr höchstes Ziel.
Mit festem Blick, doch bangem Herz,
lindert sie vielleicht den Schmerz.

(Silence in the courtroom, tense the air,
The witness takes the stand up there.
Her words are spoken, clear and strong,
Giving context to the wrong.
She saw it clearly, heard a lot,
Truth is the highest goal she sought.
With steady gaze, but anxious heart,
Perhaps she'll ease the pain, impart.)

❓ Riddle

Ich habe Augen, doch ich urteile nicht selbst.
Ich habe Ohren, doch entscheide nicht allein.
Ich spreche vor Gericht, oft mit einem Kloß im Hals.
Ich bin weiblich und helfe, Licht ins Dunkel zu bringen.

Wer bin ich?

(I have eyes, but I don't judge myself.
I have ears, but I don't decide alone.
I speak in court, often with a lump in my throat.
I am female and help bring light into the darkness.

Who am I?)

Solution: die Zeugin (the female witness)

📌 More Information

• Word Formation: The word "Zeugin" is derived from the masculine noun "Zeuge" by adding the suffix "-in", which is typical for forming feminine personal nouns in German. The root word "Zeuge" is related to the verb "zeugen" (in the sense of 'to testify', 'to bear witness').
• Relevance: Female witnesses (Zeuginnen) play a crucial role in the legal systems of many countries. Their testimonies can determine guilt or innocence.
• Protection: Sometimes, Zeuginnen require special protection if their testimony puts them in danger (Zeugenschutzprogramm - witness protection program).