German word

verboten

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈboːtən/

Meaning

  • adjectiveforbidden

Example

Das Betreten des Rasens ist verboten.

Entering the lawn is forbidden.

Illustration for verboten (forbidden)

More examples

Rauchen ist in diesem Gebäude gesetzlich verboten.

Smoking is prohibited by law in this building.

Core concept

A clear barrier or red-cross sign stops an action because rules do not permit it.

Common phrases

  • gesetzlich verboten

    prohibited by law

  • für Kinder verboten

    prohibited for children

Similar words

nicht erlaubt: Not allowed in everyday situations without permission or consent.
unerlaubt: Not permitted because approval has not been given; formal in tone.
nicht gestattet: Clearly disallowed by a rule, instruction, or official policy.
illegal: Against the law and potentially punishable.

Definition in German

Verboten beschreibt einen Zustand, in dem etwas gesetzlich oder praktisch nicht erlaubt ist.

Word origin

Verboten is the past participle of verbieten, formed from the inherited Germanic verb bieten with the prefix ver-.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, verboten is normally written lowercase, but the nominalized form das Verbotene is capitalized.

Other meanings

  • prohibitedadjective
  • not allowedadjective

Opposites

  • erlaubtpermittedadjective
  • gestattetallowedadjective

Related words

  • verbietenprohibitverb
  • das Verbotprohibitionnoun

Word lists with this word