Verdächtiger
/fɛɐ̯ˈdɛçtɪɡɐ/masculine
In German, the English phrase 'suspect' (as a noun) is translated as Verdächtiger or Verdächtige.
Meaning: person suspected of something (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Verdächtiger | /fɛɐ̯ˈdɛçtɪɡɐ/ | masculine |
| Verdächtige | /fɛɐ̯ˈdɛçtɪɡə/ | feminine |
The terms Verdächtiger and Verdächtige are used to refer to a person who is suspected of something. This is related to the adjective verdächtig, meaning 'viewed with suspicion' and the verb verdächtigen, meaning 'believe to be guilty'.
Which one should you use?
Use Verdächtiger when referring to a male suspect and Verdächtige when referring to a female suspect.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because these words are nouns derived from adjectives, they must decline their endings based on the gender and the grammatical case of the person being described.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛɐ̯ˈdɛçtɪɡɐ/
Did you know?
- While Verdächtiger is the noun for a suspect, German uses the word Verdacht to describe the 'suspicion' itself. This word is a close linguistic relative of the English word 'doubt'.
- Because Verdächtige is also the plural form for a group of suspects, you cannot tell if a news report is talking about one woman or several people just by looking at that word without checking the verb conjugation.
- The adjective verdächtig can be paired with the word riechen to describe a smell that is not just bad, but suggests something is rotting or spoiled.
Examples in context
- Ich bin kein Verdächtiger.I'm not a suspect.This sentence is useful for denying being a Verdächtiger.Tatoeba #10065310 by wolfgangth, translation #3728046 by CM
- Bin ich auch ein Verdächtiger?Am I also a suspect?This sentence is useful for asking if one is a Verdächtiger.Tatoeba #12690845 by Waldelfe, translation #11877550 by CK
- Die Verdächtige ist eine Weiße.The suspect is a caucasian female.This sentence is useful for identifying a Verdächtige.Tatoeba #1779842 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1779777 by Spamster
- Der Verdächtige wurde von der Polizei festgenommen.The suspect was arrested by the police.
- Da der Beschuldigte ein Alibi vorweisen konnte, wurde er freigesprochen.Since the accused had an alibi, he was acquitted.
- Ich glaube, er ist der Verdächtige in diesem Fall.I think he is the suspect in this case.
- Sei vorsichtig, da ist eine verdächtige Person.Be careful, there is a suspicious person over there.
- Im Polizeibericht wurde der Verdächtige als Mann in seinen 30ern beschrieben.In the police report, the suspect was described as a man in his thirties.
- Sie gilt als Hauptverdächtige in diesem Fall.She is considered the main suspect in this case.
- Die beste Vorgehensweise ist, den Verdächtigen zu beobachten, bevor man Schlüsse zieht.The best approach is to observe the suspect before drawing any conclusions.
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Sarah are discussing a crime news report.
- JulianDie Polizei sucht einen Verdächtiger.The police are looking for a suspect.
- SarahWurde der Verdächtiger schon gefasst?Has the suspect already been caught?
- JulianNein, er ist immer noch auf freiem Fuß.No, he is still at large.
- SarahHoffentlich finden sie ihn schnell.Hopefully they find him quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “suspect” translations and entries Verdächtiger, Verdächtige, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
