German word

schnappen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃnapn̩/

Meaning

  • verbcatch

Example

Die Polizei schnappte den Dieb am Bahnhof.

The police caught the thief at the train station.

Illustration for schnappen (catch)

More examples

Der Hund schnappte nach dem Ball.

The dog snapped at the ball.

Core concept

A rapid snap brings a target under control, whether a hand takes an object or authorities take a person.

Common phrases

  • jemanden schnappen

    catch someone

  • jemandem etwas schnappen

    snatch something from someone

Similar words

fangen: Catching a moving object or animal by hand or with a tool.
greifen: Reaching out and taking hold of something.
erwischen: Catching someone unexpectedly at the scene.
packen: Gripping something firmly and forcefully.

Definition in German

plötzlich etwas oder jemanden ergreifen oder festhalten; reflexiv oft 'sich etwas schnappen' verwendet; umgangssprachlich auch jemanden verhaften

Word origin

The verb is an onomatopoeic Germanic formation related to the sound and motion of a sudden snap, later extending to taking hold of people.

Usage tips

  • Schnappen can mean arrest in colloquial police language, while festnehmen is the neutral standard verb for arrest.

Other meanings

  • arrestverb
  • grabverb

Opposites

Related words

  • der Schnappschusssnapshotnoun
  • eingeschnapptsulkyadjective

Word lists with this word