01
strafbar
punishable
Describes an action that violates a law and can be punished legally.
example
Diebstahl ist eine strafbare Handlung.
Theft is a punishable offense.
strafbar
punishable
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word is easy to understand if you break it down: it consists of 'Strafe' (punishment) and the ending '-bar' (-able). The ending '-bar' means that something is possible. So 'strafbar' (punishable) literally means: you can receive a punishment for it.
EXAMPLE
Es ist strafbar, bei einer Prüfung zu betrügen.
It is punishable to cheat on an exam.
Fixed expression
The expression 'sich strafbar machen' (to commit an offense) is very common and has a fixed structure. Note the reflexive pronoun 'sich', which changes according to the person (ich mache mich, du machst dich, er macht sich strafbar).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich mit dieser Aktion strafbar gemacht.
He committed an offense with this action.
Typical collocations
'Strafbar' (punishable) usually describes abstract nouns such as 'Handlung' (action), 'Tat' (act), or 'Verhalten' (behavior). You can also ask: 'Ist das strafbar?' (Is that punishable?)
EXAMPLE
Nicht jedes unmoralische Verhalten ist auch strafbar.
Not every immoral behavior is also punishable.
Compare with
strafbar vs schuldig
guilty / owing
'schuldig' and 'strafbar' both belong to the area of law, rules, and punishment. But they do not describe the same thing. 'schuldig' says that a person is responsible for an act. 'strafbar' mainly describes an action that violates a law and can be punished. You can also say that someone 'sich strafbar macht' (commits an offense). Learners can easily confuse the words because both have to do with guilt and punishment. Remember: a person is 'schuldig' (guilty), an act is 'strafbar' (punishable).
strafbar
Wer fremde Daten ohne Erlaubnis kopiert, macht sich strafbar.
Anyone who copies other people's data without permission is committing an offense.
schuldig
Der Zeuge glaubt nicht, dass der Angeklagte schuldig ist.
The witness does not believe that the defendant is guilty.
In real life
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