German word

verhaften

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈhaftn̩/

Meaning

  • verbarrest

Example

Die Polizei verhaftet den Dieb.

The police arrest the thief.

Illustration for verhaften (arrest)

More examples

Der Politiker sagte, er sei zu Unrecht verhaftet worden.

The politician said that he had been wrongly arrested.

Core concept

Police seize a suspect under legal authority and hold the person as a prisoner.

Common phrases

  • einen Einbrecher verhaften

    arrest a burglar

  • einen Flüchtigen verhaften

    arrest a fugitive

  • den Täter verhaften

    arrest the perpetrator

Similar words

festnehmen: Take a suspect into custody at the scene for a limited time.
erwischen: Catch someone during wrongdoing or an attempted escape.

Definition in German

Jemanden durch staatliche Gewalt festnehmen und seine Freiheit einschränken.

Word origin

The verb verhaften comes from Middle High German verhaften and is built on haft, the Germanic idea of being held or bound.

Usage tips

  • Verhaften is common in legal and news language, while festnehmen is a more neutral everyday alternative for the same action.

Other meanings

  • detainverb
  • apprehendverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Verhaftungarrestnoun
  • Verhafteterarresteenoun
  • Verhaftungsbefehlarrest warrantnoun

Word lists with this word