accomplice
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accomplice
A person who helps another person plan or carry out a crime or a reprehensible act; a partner in crime.
Die Polizei verhaftete den Bankräuber und seinen Komplizen, der das Fluchtauto fuhr.
The police arrested the bank robber and his accomplice, who drove the getaway car.
'Komplize' (accomplice) is a noun of the N-declension. This means it takes the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular.
Die Polizei konnte den Komplizen des Räubers identifizieren.
The police were able to identify the robber's accomplice.
The word 'Komplize' (accomplice) is used almost exclusively in the context of crimes or morally reprehensible actions. It always describes a negative role of helping someone.
Er machte sich zum Komplizen, indem er bei dem Betrug half.
He made himself an accomplice by helping with the fraud.
Common verbs used with 'Komplize' (accomplice) are 'einen Komplizen haben' (to have an accomplice), 'einen Komplizen festnehmen' (to arrest an accomplice), or 'als Komplize gelten' (to be considered an accomplice).
Der Dieb wurde verhaftet, aber sein Komplize ist noch flüchtig.
The thief was arrested, but his accomplice is still at large.
laborer / henchman
A Komplize helps with a crime or reprehensible act and may be involved in planning or carrying it out. A Handlanger also helps, but has a subordinate role and mainly carries out another person’s instructions. The same person can be both.
Er plante den Einbruch gemeinsam mit ihr und war ihr Komplize.
He planned the burglary with her and was her accomplice.
Er führte beim Einbruch nur ihre Befehle aus und war ihr Handlanger.
During the burglary, he only carried out her orders and was her henchman.
