criminal
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criminal
A person who has committed one or more serious crimes.
Die Polizei konnte den gefährlichen Verbrecher nach einer langen Verfolgungsjagd festnehmen.
The police were able to arrest the dangerous criminal after a long chase.
A 'Verbrecher' (criminal) is a person who commits a 'Verbrechen' (crime). Both words belong to the word family around the verb 'brechen' (to break), in the sense of 'das Gesetz brechen' (to break the law).
Einbruch ist ein schweres Verbrechen.
Burglary is a serious crime.
This word is used for people who have committed serious crimes, such as robbery, murder, or fraud. It is not used for minor offenses like illegal parking.
Der Mann war ein international gesuchter Verbrecher.
The man was an internationally wanted criminal.
Common verbs used in connection with 'Verbrecher' (criminal) are 'fassen' (to catch), 'verhaften' (to arrest), 'jagen' (to hunt), and 'überführen' (to convict/prove guilty).
Die Polizei hat den Verbrecher auf frischer Tat ertappt.
The police caught the criminal in the act.
perpetrator / culprit
'der Täter' and 'der Verbrecher' both refer to a person who has done something punishable by law. 'der Täter' is more precise for a specific act: you are asking who did something. The word can also be used before all the details are known. 'der Verbrecher' sounds stronger and usually means someone who has committed a serious crime or is generally seen as a criminal person. Learners may confuse the words because both are connected to crime. In practice: for a specific act, you usually say 'der Täter'; for a serious criminal person, 'der Verbrecher' is more likely.
Der Verbrecher wurde nach mehreren Banküberfällen festgenommen.
The criminal was arrested after several bank robberies.
Die Polizei sucht den Täter nach dem Einbruch in der Bäckerei.
The police are looking for the perpetrator after the break-in at the bakery.