German Conversation · Level 196
12 words
German word
vernehmen
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈneːmən/
Meaning
- verbinterrogate
Example
Die Polizei vernimmt den Zeugen.
The police are interrogating the witness.
More examples
Die Ermittler vernehmen heute mehrere Zeugen.
The investigators are interrogating several witnesses today.
Core concept
An official carefully takes in a person's spoken testimony and records what is heard.
Common phrases
einen Verdächtigen vernehmen
interrogate a suspect
einen Zeugen vernehmen
interrogate a witness
bei der Polizei vernehmen
interrogate at the police station
Similar words
befragen: To ask questions to gather information for an investigation, survey, or interview.
verhören: To interrogate a suspect firmly in an effort to uncover facts or gain a confession.
interviewen: To question someone to learn about their views, experiences, or expertise.
fragen: To put a straightforward question to someone to get information.
Definition in German
offiziell jemanden zu seiner Aussage befragen oder seine Aussage protokollieren
Word origin
Vernehmen is an inherited Germanic formation from ver- and nehmen, whose meaning developed from taking to perceiving or obtaining information.
Usage tips
- Vernehmen is formal and chiefly legal or official, while everyday questioning usually uses fragen.
Other meanings
- hearverb
Related words
- Vernehmunginterrogationnoun
- Vernehmerinterrogatornoun
- Vernehmungsprotokollinterrogation reportnoun