01
verboten
forbidden
Not allowed by a law, rule, or instruction; prohibited.
example
Das Füttern der Tiere im Zoo ist streng verboten.
Feeding the animals in the zoo is strictly forbidden.
verboten
forbidden
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Meanings
Usage tips
Participle as adjective
'Verboten' (forbidden) is the past participle of the verb 'verbieten' (to forbid). It is used like a normal adjective, usually together with the verb 'sein' (to be).
EXAMPLE
Das Betreten der Baustelle ist streng verboten.
Entering the construction site is strictly forbidden.
Sentence structure with infinitive
'Verboten' (forbidden) is very often used in the structure 'Es ist verboten, … zu + infinitive' (It is forbidden to ...). This lets you express exactly which action is not allowed.
EXAMPLE
Es ist verboten, im Park Feuer zu machen.
It is forbidden to make a fire in the park.
Typical intensifiers
To emphasize the strength of a prohibition, 'verboten' (forbidden) is often strengthened by adverbs such as 'streng' (strictly), 'strikt' (strictly), or 'ausdrücklich' (expressly).
EXAMPLE
Das Rauchen ist in diesem Gebäude ausdrücklich verboten.
Smoking is expressly forbidden in this building.
Compare with
verboten vs schwarz
black
'schwarz' and 'verboten' can both have to do with something that is not allowed. 'verboten' is the general word when a law, a rule, or a person does not allow something. 'schwarz' is colloquial and usually means that something is done without official registration or permission, for example 'schwarzarbeiten' (to work off the books) or 'schwarzfahren' (to ride without a valid ticket). The words can be confused because something that is done 'schwarz' is often also forbidden. But not everything that is forbidden is called 'schwarz'.
verboten
Im Krankenhaus ist Rauchen überall verboten.
Smoking is forbidden everywhere in the hospital.
schwarz
Viele wissen nicht, wie teuer Schwarzfahren werden kann.
Many people do not know how expensive riding without a ticket can become.
In real life
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