tattletale
die Petze, die Petzen
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tattletale
A person who tells others what someone has done in secret or against the rules; the word is usually used disapprovingly to refer to a child.
Sei keine Petze und erzähl dem Lehrer nicht, wer den Ball kaputt gemacht hat.
Don't be a tattletale and tell the teacher who broke the ball.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Petzen |
| genitive | der Petze |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Petze | die Petzen |
| accusative | die Petze | die Petzen |
| dative | der Petze | den Petzen |
| genitive | der Petze | der Petzen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Petze' (tattletale) is an informal and usually derogatory word. It is particularly common in arguments among children or teenagers.
Auf dem Schulhof nannte ihn jemand eine Petze.
Someone called him a tattletale in the school playground.
„Du Petze!“, rief das Mädchen wütend.
'You tattletale!' the girl shouted angrily.
'Petze' (tattletale) very often appears in the expressions 'eine Petze sein' (to be a tattletale) or 'keine Petze sein' (not to be a tattletale). These expressions are used to judge whether someone tells others about secrets or rule-breaking.
Ich bin keine Petze und verrate dein Geheimnis nicht.
I'm not a tattletale, and I won't reveal your secret.
'Petze' (tattletale) is particularly common in situations where a child tells other children or a teacher that someone has broken a rule. Typical topics include broken things, forbidden games, or secretive behavior.
Nach dem Streit behauptete er, Lisa sei eine Petze, weil sie die Lehrerin informiert hatte.
After the argument, he claimed Lisa was a tattletale because she had told the teacher.
