die Unschuld
innocence
The state of not being responsible for or guilty of a crime, mistake, or moral wrongdoing.
EXAMPLE
Der Angeklagte konnte vor Gericht seine Unschuld beweisen.
The defendant was able to prove his innocence in court.
die Unschuld
innocence
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Meanings
die Unschuld
innocence
The state of naivety, guilelessness, and sexual inexperience, often associated with childhood.
EXAMPLE
Mit der Zeit verlor er die kindliche Unschuld und den Glauben an das Gute in allen Menschen.
Over time, he lost his childlike innocence and his belief in the good in all people.
die Unschuld vom Lande
naive innocent
A fixed expression for a person who acts naive, innocent, and inexperienced in the ways of the world, or who actually is.
EXAMPLE
Tu nicht so, als wärst du die Unschuld vom Lande, du wusstest genau, was passiert.
Don't act like some naive innocent; you knew exactly what was happening.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is easy to understand if you break it down: the prefix 'Un-' is a negation, and the base word is 'die Schuld' (guilt/fault). 'Unschuld' (innocence) therefore literally means 'non-guilt'.
EXAMPLE
Ohne die Vorsilbe „un-“ hat das Wort die gegenteilige Bedeutung: Schuld.
Without the prefix 'un-', the word has the opposite meaning: guilt.
Use in the singular
As an abstract noun, 'Unschuld' (innocence) is used almost exclusively in the singular. The plural is extremely rare and is not used in normal everyday language.
EXAMPLE
Er sprach immer wieder von seiner Unschuld.
He kept talking about his innocence.
Typical collocations
In a legal context, 'Unschuld' (innocence) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are 'seine Unschuld beteuern' (to insist on one's innocence), 'an jemandes Unschuld glauben' (to believe in someone's innocence), or 'seine Unschuld beweisen' (to prove one's innocence).
EXAMPLE
Bis zum Schluss hat sie ihre Unschuld beteuert.
She insisted on her innocence right to the end.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'die Unschuld vom Lande' (the naive country innocent) is fixed and is often used ironically. It implies that the person is only pretending to be naive and inexperienced.
EXAMPLE
Spiel nicht die Unschuld vom Lande, ich weiß genau, dass du davon wusstest!
Don't play the naive innocent; I know perfectly well that you knew about it!
Compare with
Unschuld vs Reinheit
purity
For a person, Unschuld can refer to guilelessness or sexual inexperience. Reinheit describes a more comprehensive state of moral or spiritual incorruptibility and can also include chastity. When the focus is specifically on a lack of experience, Unschuld is suitable; for a moral ideal, Reinheit is more appropriate.
Unschuld
Der Roman beschreibt ihre Unschuld als völlige sexuelle Unerfahrenheit.
The novel describes her innocence as complete sexual inexperience.
Reinheit
Der Roman beschreibt ihre Reinheit als moralische und seelische Unverdorbenheit.
The novel describes her purity as moral and spiritual incorruptibility.
In real life
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