schummeln
to cheat
To break the rules in a game, test, or competition in order to gain an unfair advantage.
EXAMPLE
Mein kleiner Bruder versucht immer, beim Kartenspielen zu schummeln.
My little brother always tries to cheat when playing cards.
schummeln
to cheat
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Meanings
schummeln
to fudge
To tell small untruths or slightly exaggerate or understate information (e.g., age, weight) in order to create a better impression.
EXAMPLE
Er hat bei seiner Größe ein paar Zentimeter geschummelt, um größer zu wirken.
He fudged his height by a few centimeters to seem taller.
Usage tips
Sentence structure with “bei”
If you want to say in which situation someone cheats or fudges something, use the preposition “bei” with the dative. This applies to both meanings of the word.
EXAMPLE
Er wurde erwischt, als er bei der Prüfung geschummelt hat.
He was caught cheating on the exam.
Register and style
“Schummeln” (to cheat/fudge) is usually used for smaller, not very serious rule violations in everyday life. It often sounds more harmless and childlike than the word “betrügen” (to deceive/cheat).
EXAMPLE
Komm schon, beim Monopoly darf man doch mal ein bisschen schummeln!
Come on, you're allowed to cheat a little at Monopoly!
Context clue
The context makes clear which meaning is intended. Words like “Spiel” (game), “Test” (test), or “Karten” (cards) point to unfair advantages. Words like “Alter” (age), “Größe” (height), or “Gewicht” (weight) point to small untruths about oneself.
EXAMPLE
Niemand mag es, wenn Mitspieler beim Kartenspiel schummeln.
Nobody likes it when other players cheat at card games.
Compare with
schummeln vs betrügen
to cheat / deceive
Here, betrügen and schummeln refer to gaining an unfair advantage by breaking rules. Betrügen usually sounds more serious, while schummeln is colloquial and often used for minor violations. The difference lies more in evaluation and register than in a clear-cut boundary.
schummeln
Bei der Prüfung schummelte er, indem er kurz auf den Zettel seines Nachbarn sah.
He cheated on the exam by briefly looking at his neighbor's paper.
betrügen
Bei der Prüfung betrog er systematisch mit gestohlenen Lösungen.
He cheated systematically on the exam using stolen answer keys.
In real life
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