German word

Zeuge

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsɔɪ̯gə/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwitness

Example

Der Zeuge sagte die Wahrheit vor Gericht.

The witness told the truth in court.

Illustration for Zeuge (witness)

More examples

Ein Zeuge filmte den Streit mit dem Handy.

A witness filmed the argument with a mobile phone.

Core concept

A person in court recounting what was personally seen or experienced.

Common phrases

  • Zeuge des Unfalls

    witness to the accident

  • als unbeteiligter Zeuge

    as an uninvolved witness

  • einen Zeugen brauchen

    need a witness

Similar words

Augenzeuge: A person who directly saw an event and can give testimony about it.
Zeugin: A woman who gives spoken testimony about what she saw or heard.

Definition in German

Eine Person, die aufgrund eigener Beobachtungen oder Erlebnisse vor anderen über Tatsachen aussagt, oft in rechtlichem oder offiziellem Zusammenhang.

Word origin

Zeuge developed from Middle High German ziuc and Old High German ziug, historical forms for a witness, and belongs to the word family of zeugen.

Usage tips

  • Zeuge is a weak masculine noun, so its plural and many singular forms are Zeugen, as in mit dem Zeugen.

Related words

Word lists with this word