to determine / investigate
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to investigate
To find out facts or information through an investigation or research. Often used in the context of the police, the justice system, or science.
Die Polizei ermittelt noch die genaue Ursache des Unfalls.
The police are still investigating the exact cause of the accident.
to determine
To establish a value, quantity, or result by calculation or measurement.
Mit dieser Formel können wir den Flächeninhalt des Kreises ermitteln.
With this formula, we can determine the area of the circle.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'er-' (result) and the stem of 'Mittel' (method, means). 'Ermitteln' (to determine / investigate) therefore means to find something out by using methods or means.
Die Wissenschaftler ermitteln die Daten durch eine lange Versuchsreihe.
The scientists determine the data through a long series of experiments.
The context reveals the meaning: If it is about crimes, causes, or perpetrators, it refers to a police investigation. If it is about numbers, values, or results, it refers to calculation.
Die Polizei ermittelt den Täter.
The police are investigating the perpetrator.
When an investigation is being conducted against a specific person or group, the preposition 'gegen' (against) is used with the accusative. This is a very common construction in news and reports.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt gegen den Geschäftsführer der Firma.
The public prosecutor's office is investigating the managing director of the company.
In a police or legal context, 'ermitteln' (to investigate) is often used with certain nouns, e.g. 'die Ursache ermitteln' (to determine the cause), 'den Täter ermitteln' (to identify the perpetrator), or 'in einem Mordfall ermitteln' (to investigate a murder case).
Die Detektive ermitteln in einem komplizierten Fall von Betrug.
The detectives are investigating a complicated case of fraud.
to determine / notice / secure
Both feststellen and ermitteln can involve finding out a cause or obtaining information. Ermitteln places more emphasis on the investigation or research, while feststellen focuses more on the insight gained from it. Use ermitteln for the process of reaching the result and feststellen when you subsequently state the result.
Durch Befragungen ermittelte die Polizei die Ursache des Unfalls.
The police investigated the cause of the accident by conducting interviews.
Nach der Untersuchung stellte die Polizei die Ursache des Unfalls fest.
After the investigation, the police determined the cause of the accident.
