Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| beschuldigen | /bəˈʃʊldiɡən/ |
| verantwortlich machen |
The choice between these terms depends on whether you are making a specific accusation or holding someone accountable for a result.
What does it mean word for word?
The related noun Schuld can mean guilt or fault in a moral or legal sense, but it also means a financial debt depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
Use beschuldigen when you are accusing someone of a specific crime or wrongdoing. In contrast, verantwortlich machen is used more broadly to hold someone accountable for a consequence.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase verantwortlich machen requires an accusative object for the person being blamed and the preposition für followed by an accusative object for the cause or reason.
How do you pronounce it?
/bəˈʃʊldiɡən/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use beschuldigen with the preposition für (for). In standard German, the person is accused of something using the genitive case.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Irren ist menschlich. Jemand anderen für deine Fehler zu beschuldigen ist sogar noch menschlicher.To err is human. To blame someone else for your mistakes is even more human.This sentence shows the use of beschuldigen in the context of human error.Tatoeba #1164832 by Vortarulo, translation #823015 by Scott
- Man kann offensichtlich nicht Poseidon dafür verantwortlich machen, daß die Titanic untergegangen ist.You obviously can't blame Poseidon for sinking the Titanic.This sentence illustrates how to use verantwortlich machen to hold someone or something accountable for a specific event.Tatoeba #12686015 by Waldelfe, translation #11757338 by Amastan
- Ich gebe Ihnen die Schuld für den Fehler.I blame you for the mistake.
- Wir machen Sie für den Unfall verantwortlich.We hold you responsible for the accident.
- Ich geb dir die Schuld für das Chaos im Zimmer!I blame you for the mess in the room!
- Du solltest mich nicht für den Fehler beschuldigen.You shouldn't blame me for the mistake.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blame” translations and entries beschuldigen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beschuldigen, machen, verantwortlich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
