das Recht
right
A moral or legal claim to do, have, or receive something.
EXAMPLE
Jeder Bürger hat das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung.
Every citizen has the right to freedom of expression.
das Recht
right / law
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
das Recht
law
The entire system of laws and rules that applies in a state or community. Often used as a field of study or profession.
EXAMPLE
Sie studiert Recht an der Universität in Hamburg.
She studies law at the university in Hamburg.
im Recht sein
to be in the right
To hold the correct, justified position in an argument or disagreement.
EXAMPLE
Obwohl alle gegen ihn waren, wusste er, dass er im Recht war.
Although everyone was against him, he knew that he was in the right.
mit Recht
rightly
For good reason; justifiably, rightly.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich mit Recht über den schlechten Service beschwert.
He rightly complained about the poor service.
sein gutes Recht
one's good right
An undeniable claim or permission that someone is entitled to.
EXAMPLE
Es ist dein gutes Recht, das Angebot abzulehnen.
It is your good right to reject the offer.
Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'das Recht' (right/law) is the basis for the adjective 'recht' (right). Capitalization makes it clear that it is the noun, which describes a claim or the legal system.
EXAMPLE
Jeder hat das Recht auf Bildung.
Everyone has the right to education.
Context clue
When 'Recht' is used without an article, it usually means the legal field or the legal system. With an article ('das Recht') or in the plural ('die Rechte'), it refers to a specific right or claim.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder studiert Recht in Berlin.
My brother studies law in Berlin.
Fixed preposition
A claim is often expressed with the preposition 'auf' (to/on) and the accusative. The structure is: 'das Recht auf etwas haben' (to have the right to something).
EXAMPLE
Die Mitarbeiter haben ein Recht auf eine Pause.
The employees have a right to a break.
Fixed expression
The expression 'im Recht sein' (to be in the right) describes that someone objectively or morally holds the correct position. It is often used in conflict situations or discussions.
EXAMPLE
Er war überzeugt davon, im Recht zu sein.
He was convinced that he was in the right.
Adverbial expression
The expression 'mit Recht' (rightly) means 'berechtigterweise' (justifiably) or 'zu Recht' (rightly). It often appears at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence and evaluates an action as justified.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich mit Recht über den Lärm beschwert.
She rightly complained about the noise.
Showing possession
The expression 'sein gutes Recht' (one's good right) is often used with a possessive pronoun (mein, dein, sein, etc.) to emphasize an undeniable claim.
EXAMPLE
Es ist dein gutes Recht, nach einem Rabatt zu fragen.
It is your good right to ask for a discount.
Compare with
Recht vs recht
right / quite
Recht and das Recht can express in an argument that someone is taking the correct or justified position. Recht usually appears in the fixed expression „recht haben“, while das Recht is capitalized as a noun in „im Recht sein“. So pay attention to the complete expression and its spelling.
Recht
In diesem Streit ist meine Schwester im Recht.
In this argument, my sister is in the right.
recht
Du hast mit deiner Antwort recht.
You are right about your answer.
In real life
Loading video examples...