to embezzle / suppress
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to embezzle
To illegally keep money or property entrusted to you and not pass it on to the rightful recipient. This is a criminal offense.
Der Buchhalter wurde beschuldigt, Firmengelder in Höhe von 50.000 Euro unterschlagen zu haben.
The accountant was accused of having embezzled company funds amounting to 50,000 euros.
'Unterschlagen' is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'unter-' is not separated from the main verb and is unstressed. It remains attached to the verb in all sentence forms.
Er hat die Dokumente unterschlagen.
He embezzled the documents.
The meaning depends on the object. If it is about money or property, it means 'to keep illegally for oneself'. If it is about information, facts, or evidence, it means 'to deliberately conceal'.
Der Kassierer hat Einnahmen unterschlagen.
The cashier embezzled revenue.
In the legal meaning, the verb is almost always used with valuables or property. Typical objects are 'Geld' (money), 'Gelder' (funds), 'Vermögen' (assets), or 'Einnahmen' (revenue).
Ihm wird vorgeworfen, Spendengelder unterschlagen zu haben.
He is accused of having embezzled donation funds.
When it is about concealment, the objects are always abstract. Common combinations are 'Fakten unterschlagen' (to suppress facts), 'Beweise unterschlagen' (to suppress evidence), or 'einen Aspekt unterschlagen' (to leave out an aspect).
Der Politiker versuchte, die negativen Aspekte des Gesetzes zu unterschlagen.
The politician tried to suppress the negative aspects of the law.
to steal
'stehlen' and 'unterschlagen' can both mean that someone illegally keeps or takes something for themselves. 'stehlen' is used when someone takes something that does not belong to them, often secretly. 'unterschlagen' is especially appropriate when someone has already been entrusted with something and then does not pass it on or return it. You can also 'unterschlagen' information or evidence, meaning deliberately conceal it. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with wrongdoing. Memory tip: 'stehlen' means to take away; 'unterschlagen' often means to keep or conceal.
Jonas unterschlägt im Bericht wichtige Informationen über den Fehler.
Jonas suppresses important information about the mistake in the report.
Weil die Kasse offen war, konnte der Dieb schnell Geld stehlen.
Because the cash register was open, the thief was able to steal money quickly.