German word

verurteilen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈʊɐ̯taɪ̯lən/

Meaning

  • verbcondemn

Example

Man darf Menschen nicht sofort verurteilen.

People must not condemn others right away.

Illustration for verurteilen (condemn)

More examples

Wir sollten neue Kollegen nicht sofort verurteilen.

We should not condemn new colleagues immediately.

Core concept

A judge's stamp marks a person or action as beyond acceptable limits, either in court or in public opinion.

Common phrases

  • nicht sofort verurteilen

    not immediately condemn

  • zu Unrecht verurteilen

    unjustly condemn

Similar words

kritisieren: Express disapproval by identifying what is wrong with someone's conduct or words.
beschuldigen: Hold someone responsible for a suspected wrongdoing.
beurteilen: Form an opinion about the merits or faults of a person or thing.
tadeln: Scold or reprimand someone for a specific bad action.

Definition in German

eine Handlung oder Person vorschnell als schlecht beurteilen; rechtssprachlich jemanden durch Urteil für schuldig erklären

Word origin

The verb combines the prefix ver- with urteilen, derived from Urteil, and developed from judging in court to condemning people or actions more generally.

Usage tips

  • In legal use, verurteilen takes an accusative object and often zu plus a penalty, as in jemanden zu einer Strafe verurteilen.

Other meanings

  • sentenceverb

Opposites

Related words

  • der Verurteilteconvicted personnoun
  • die Verurteilungcondemnationnoun

Word lists with this word