Dieb
/diːp/masculine
The German word for thief is Dieb. Wiktionary also lists Diebin.
Meaning: one who carries out theft (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dieb | /diːp/ | masculine |
| Diebin | /ˈdiːbɪn/ | feminine |
The term is a noun used to describe a person who carries out theft.
Which one should you use?
Use Dieb when referring to a male thief and Diebin when referring to a female thief.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the masculine form Dieb is Diebe.
How do you pronounce it?
/diːp/
Did you know?
- In historical German law, being labeled a Dieb could lead to 'outlawry', where the person lost all legal protections and could be hunted like an animal.
- In German, the phrase Diebe ehren Diebe means 'thieves honor thieves', suggesting that only a criminal can truly understand or respect the skill of another criminal.
- The German word Dieb and the English word 'thief' are essentially the same word, having descended from the same Proto-Germanic ancestor *þeubaz.
Examples in context
- Tom ist ein Dieb.Tom is a thief.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific person as a Dieb.Tatoeba #1941111 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1025143 by CK
- Du bist ein Dieb.You're a thief.This sentence is useful for addressing someone as a Dieb.Tatoeba #12515886 by mayabe, translation #2218045 by CK
- Ich bin kein Dieb.I'm not a thief.This sentence is useful for denying that one is a Dieb.Tatoeba #1836246 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1836094 by Spamster
- Bitte halten Sie den Gauner auf!Please stop the crook!
- Mein Vater ist ein kluger Räuber.My father is a smart thief.
- Du bist ein Dieb!You are a thief!
- Ich habe den Dieb erwischt.I caught the thief.
- Die Polizei hat den Dieb gefasst.The police caught the thief.
- 149 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are talking about a crime reported on the news.
- FelixHast du den Dieb gesehen?Did you see the thief?
- LauraNein, ich habe ihn nicht gesehen.No, I didn't see him.
- FelixDer Dieb ist sehr schnell geflohen.The thief fled very quickly.
- LauraDas ist wirklich sehr gefährlich.That is really very dangerous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thief” translations and entries Dieb, Diebin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dieb, Diebin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
