unrecht haben
to be wrong
To have a false opinion or assessment; to be mistaken.
EXAMPLE
Du hast unrecht, der Zug fährt erst in einer Stunde.
You're wrong; the train won't leave for another hour.
unrecht
wrong
unrecht – unrechter – am unrechtesten
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Meanings
unrecht
wrong / unjust
Unjust or morally wrong; not rightfully due to someone.
EXAMPLE
Es ist unrecht, einen unschuldigen Menschen zu bestrafen.
It is wrong to punish an innocent person.
jemandem unrecht tun
to do someone wrong
To treat someone unjustly or judge them incorrectly.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Verdacht tust du ihr unrecht.
You are doing her wrong with this suspicion.
es ist mir unrecht
to be inconvenient to someone
Something is unpleasant or inconvenient for someone.
EXAMPLE
Es ist mir unrecht, dass du wegen mir so lange warten musstest.
I feel bad that you had to wait so long because of me.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry unrecht, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | unrecht |
|---|---|
| comparative | unrechter |
| superlative | am unrechtesten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to unrecht.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to unrecht.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to unrecht.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Unrecht' (wrong) consists of 'un-' and 'recht' (right). The prefix 'un-' gives the word a negating or negative meaning and helps explain its different uses.
EXAMPLE
Ob er recht oder unrecht hat, wird sich bald zeigen.
Whether he is right or wrong will soon become clear.
Fixed combination
For the meaning 'sich irren' (to be mistaken), 'unrecht' (wrong) is typically used with 'haben' (to have). The person is the subject: Jemand hat unrecht (Someone is wrong).
EXAMPLE
Bei dieser Einschätzung hast du unrecht.
You are wrong about this assessment.
Dative construction
In the fixed expression 'jemandem unrecht tun' (to do someone wrong), the affected person is in the dative. 'Unrecht tun' (to do wrong) describes treating someone unjustly or judging them incorrectly.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe dir unrecht getan und möchte mich entschuldigen.
I did you wrong and would like to apologize.
Unpleasant or inconvenient
In the construction 'Es ist jemandem unrecht' (It is unpleasant or inconvenient for someone), the person is in the dative. This is often followed by a dass-clause or an infinitive with 'zu', explaining what is unpleasant or inconvenient for that person.
EXAMPLE
Es ist mir unrecht, dich so spät noch anzurufen.
I feel bad about calling you so late.
In real life
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