01
unschuldig
innocent
Not guilty in the sense of an accusation, crime, or offense.
example
Der Angeklagte plädierte auf unschuldig und wurde am Ende freigesprochen.
The defendant pleaded innocent and was eventually acquitted.
unschuldig
innocent
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word is built simply: the prefix 'un-' negates the adjective 'schuldig' (guilty). Someone who is 'unschuldig' (innocent) is therefore 'nicht schuldig' (not guilty).
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Kind schaute mich mit einem unschuldigen Lächeln an.
The little child looked at me with an innocent smile.
Context clues
The context shows the exact meaning. In the legal field (court, police), it means 'not guilty'. In a social context, it often describes a naive person (child) or a harmless action (joke).
EXAMPLE
Der Angeklagte beteuerte, er sei unschuldig.
The defendant insisted that he was innocent.
Use with 'an'
In the legal meaning, the preposition 'an' with the dative is often used to say what someone is innocent of. The structure is: 'unschuldig an etwas sein' (to be innocent of something).
EXAMPLE
Er ist unschuldig an diesem Verbrechen.
He is innocent of this crime.
Compare with
unschuldig vs weiß
white
'weiß' and 'unschuldig' can have a similar meaning in the idiom 'eine weiße Weste haben' (to have a clean record). Both then express that someone has done nothing wrong or bears no guilt. You can use 'unschuldig' directly about a person, especially in the context of an accusation or charge. 'eine weiße Weste haben' sounds more figurative and a bit more idiomatic. You use it when you want to emphasize that someone has nothing to be blamed for.
unschuldig
Lea ist unschuldig und hat mit dem Diebstahl nichts zu tun.
Lea is innocent and has nothing to do with the theft.
weiß
Frau Müller hat in der Sache eine weiße Weste, weil sie alle Regeln eingehalten hat.
Ms. Müller has a clean record in this matter because she followed all the rules.
In real life
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