German word

illegal

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɪlegaːl/

Meaning

  • adjectiveunlawful

Example

Der illegale Handel wurde gestoppt.

The unlawful trade was stopped.

Illustration for illegal (unlawful)

More examples

Die Polizei beschlagnahmte illegale Drogen.

The police seized illegal drugs.

Core concept

A person or action has crossed a boundary marked by law and is therefore not permitted.

Common phrases

  • illegale Drogen

    illegal drugs

  • illegale Einreise

    illegal entry

  • illegale Beschäftigung

    illegal employment

Similar words

verboten: Explicitly prohibited by a rule, regulation, or established practice.
unerlaubt: Not authorized because the required approval or consent is missing.
rechtswidrig: In conflict with the law and legally objectionable.

Definition in German

Nicht gesetzeskonform; nach dem Gesetz nicht erlaubt.

Word origin

German illegal comes from Latin illegalis, formed from in- meaning 'not' and legalis meaning 'lawful', with the prefix becoming il- before l.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, illegal is lowercase and takes normal German adjective endings, as in illegaler Handel and illegale Geschäfte.

Other meanings

  • illicitadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • illegalisierencriminalizeverb
  • Illegalitätillegalitynoun
  • Illegaleillegal immigrantnoun

Word lists with this word