die Buße
fine
A monetary payment imposed as a punishment for violating a rule or law.
EXAMPLE
Wegen des Verstoßes musste das Unternehmen eine hohe Buße zahlen.
Because of the violation, the company had to pay a hefty fine.
die Buße
fine / penance
die Buße, die Bußen
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Meanings
die Buße
penance
In a religious or moral context, remorse for wrongdoing and turning toward a better life; also an action performed to atone for wrongdoing.
EXAMPLE
Der Priester sprach mit ihr über Buße und Vergebung.
The priest spoke with her about penance and forgiveness.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Buße, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Bußen |
| genitive | der Buße |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Buße | die Bußen |
| accusative | die Buße | die Bußen |
| dative | der Buße | den Bußen |
| genitive | der Buße | der Bußen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
Whether „Buße“ (fine / penance) refers to a monetary payment or religious-moral remorse can usually be determined from the context: words related to law and traffic point to the first meaning, while religious words such as „Sünde“ (sin), „Vergebung“ (forgiveness), or „Priester“ (priest) point to the second.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Verkehrsverstoß musste er eine Buße zahlen.
After the traffic violation, he had to pay a fine.
Im Gottesdienst ging es um Buße und Vergebung.
The service focused on penance and forgiveness.
Register and style
The meaning involving a monetary payment is particularly common in legal, administrative, and official texts. The religious meaning is found mainly in church or religious contexts.
EXAMPLE
Der Bescheid informiert über die verhängte Buße.
The notice provides information about the fine imposed.
Der Text beschreibt Buße als Weg zur inneren Umkehr.
The text describes penance as a path toward inner transformation.
Typical collocations
In its legal meaning, „Buße“ (fine) often occurs with verbs such as „zahlen“ (to pay), „verhängen“ (to impose), and „auferlegen“ (to levy). Typical collocations also include „eine hohe Buße“ (a hefty fine) and „eine Buße wegen eines Verstoßes“ (a fine for a violation).
EXAMPLE
Die Behörde verhängte wegen des Verstoßes eine Buße.
The authorities imposed a fine because of the violation.
Für den Regelverstoß musste der Veranstalter eine hohe Buße zahlen.
The organizer had to pay a hefty fine for breaking the rules.
Religious context
In religious texts, „Buße“ (penance) often occurs with words such as „tun“ (to do), „leisten“ (to perform), „Reue“ (remorse), „Sünde“ (sin), and „Vergebung“ (forgiveness). Here, the focus is not on an official payment but on changing one's behavior and making amends for wrongdoing.
EXAMPLE
Die Buße sollte ihm helfen, seine Schuld anzunehmen.
The penance was meant to help him acknowledge his wrongdoing.
Für sie gehörten Reue und Buße zu einem neuen Anfang.
For her, remorse and penance were part of making a new beginning.
In real life
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