01
gestehen
to confess
To admit to an act, a mistake, or guilt. It is mostly used in the context of crimes or moral wrongdoing.
example
Der Angeklagte hat den Diebstahl gestanden.
The defendant confessed to the theft.
gestehen
to confess
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'gestehen' (to confess) is inseparable. The prefix 'ge-' is part of the verb stem here and is not separated from the rest of the verb in any sentence form.
EXAMPLE
Er gestand den Fehler sofort.
He confessed the mistake immediately.
Typical collocations
When it is about admitting guilt, 'gestehen' (to confess) is often combined with nouns such as 'die Tat' (the act), 'der Fehler' (the mistake), 'das Verbrechen' (the crime), or the word 'alles' (everything).
EXAMPLE
Der Angeklagte weigerte sich, das Verbrechen zu gestehen.
The defendant refused to confess to the crime.
Dative construction
When you confess something to a person, that person is in the dative. The pattern is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) gestehen.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seinem besten Freund gestanden, dass er Hilfe braucht.
He confessed to his best friend that he needed help.
Context: feelings and secrets
In this meaning, 'gestehen' (to confess) is used to reveal very personal things. Typical combinations are 'jemandem seine Liebe gestehen' (to confess one's love to someone) or 'jemandem ein Geheimnis gestehen' (to confess a secret to someone).
EXAMPLE
Es fiel ihm schwer, ihr seine wahren Gefühle zu gestehen.
It was difficult for him to confess his true feelings to her.
Compare with
gestehen vs singen
to sing
'singen' and 'gestehen' can both mean that someone admits to an act. 'gestehen' is the normal and more precise word when someone admits to a mistake, guilt, or a crime. 'singen' is colloquial in this meaning and sounds like a police or interrogation context. It can also mean that someone incriminates other people. The risk of confusion arises because both words can appear in crime stories. If you want to speak neutrally, 'gestehen' is usually right; 'singen' only fits in informal language and in certain situations.
gestehen
Der Schüler gesteht, dass er bei der Prüfung abgeschrieben hat.
The student confesses that he cheated on the exam.
singen
Im Verhör sang der Dieb und nannte auch die Namen seiner Freunde.
During the interrogation, the thief sang and also named his friends.
In real life
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