der Kumpan
companion
A companion or buddy with whom one spends time or does things together. The word is mostly colloquial.
EXAMPLE
Er kam mit seinem alten Kumpan zum Fußballspiel.
He came to the soccer game with his old buddy.
der Kumpan
companion / accomplice
der Kumpan, die Kumpane
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Meanings
der Kumpan
accomplice
Someone who conspires with another person, especially in something illegal or morally questionable. In this sense, the word is derogatory.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei nahm den Dieb und seinen Kumpan fest.
The police arrested the thief and his accomplice.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Kumpan, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Kumpane |
| genitive | des Kumpans |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Kumpan | die Kumpane |
| accusative | den Kumpan | die Kumpane |
| dative | dem Kumpan | den Kumpanen |
| genitive | des Kumpans | der Kumpane |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Colloquial language
'Kumpan' (companion / accomplice) is used mostly in colloquial language and sounds somewhat casual or narrative in many situations. In written texts, it often appears in stories, reports, or when describing characters.
EXAMPLE
Sein Kumpan wartete schon vor dem Kino auf ihn.
His buddy was already waiting for him outside the cinema.
Typical collocations
In the sense of companion, 'Kumpan' (companion) often appears with a possessive article and descriptive words such as 'alt' (old) or 'treu' (loyal). Common patterns include 'sein alter Kumpan' (his old companion) and 'mit einem Kumpan unterwegs sein' (to be out and about with a companion).
EXAMPLE
Beim Dorffest traf er seinen alten Kumpan aus der Schulzeit.
At the village festival, he ran into his old school friend.
Context clue
A criminal or morally problematic context usually points to the derogatory meaning. This is especially clear when 'Kumpan' (accomplice) appears together with words such as 'Dieb' (thief), 'Betrüger' (swindler), or 'festnehmen' (to arrest).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Einbruch wurden der Täter und sein Kumpan festgenommen.
After the burglary, the perpetrator and his accomplice were arrested.
In real life
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