German word

Kripo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkʁiːpo/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncriminal investigation department

Example

Die Kripo ist für schwere Verbrechen zuständig.

The criminal investigation department deals with serious crimes.

Illustration for Kripo (criminal investigation department)

More examples

Er wurde von der Kripo verhört.

He was interrogated by the criminal investigation department.

Core concept

Detectives sorting evidence, tracing suspects, and building a case inside the police force.

Common phrases

  • Kontakt mit der Kripo aufnehmen

    contact the criminal investigation department

  • von der Kripo verhört werden

    be interrogated by the criminal investigation department

Similar words

Kriminalpolizei: A police department focused on investigating serious crimes.
Polizei: The public authority responsible for safety, law enforcement, and accident response.
Ermittler: An investigator who examines the facts of a case.
Staatsanwaltschaft: The authority that decides on prosecutions and takes cases through court.

Definition in German

Kurzform von Kriminalpolizei; bezeichnet die Ermittlungsabteilung der Polizei, die Straftaten aufklärt.

Word origin

Kripo comes from shortening the German compound Kriminalpolizei, whose parts mean criminal and police.

Usage tips

  • Kripo names a specialized police branch rather than the police force as a whole.

Other meanings

  • crime squadnoun
  • detective unitnoun

Word lists with this word