German Conversation · Level 172
30 words
German word
büßen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈbyːsn̩/
Meaning
- verbbe punished
Example
Er büßte für die Tat.
He was punished for the act.
More examples
Nach dem Skandal müssen die Verantwortlichen für ihre Fehler büßen.
After the scandal, those responsible must be punished for their mistakes.
Core concept
A person carries the consequences of a wrongful act as a burden, through punishment or personal reparation.
Common phrases
für seine Fehler büßen
be punished for his mistakes
für ein Vergehen büßen
be punished for an offense
teuer büßen
pay dearly
Similar words
bestrafen: Impose a penalty on someone for wrongdoing.
abbüßen: Serve a sentence as punishment for an offense.
einbüßen: Suffer a loss or disadvantage as a result of something.
Definition in German
Durch Strafe oder Buße für ein Vergehen Verantwortung übernehmen und die Folgen tragen.
Word origin
Büßen comes from Old High German buozen through Middle High German büezen and is related to Buße, originally referring to compensation or penance.
Usage tips
- Büßen commonly takes für plus the accusative, as in für die Tat büßen, meaning to pay for or suffer the consequences of an act.
Other meanings
- atoneverb
- pay forverb
Opposites
- belohnenrewardverb
- verschonenspareverb