der Verdacht
suspicion
An assumption without certain proof that someone has done something illegal or wrong.
EXAMPLE
Gegen den Mann besteht der Verdacht des Diebstahls.
The man is under suspicion of theft.
der Verdacht
suspicion
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Meanings
der Verdacht
suspected illness
An assumption in a medical context that a certain illness is present in a patient.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt äußerte den Verdacht auf eine Lungenentzündung.
The doctor expressed a suspicion of pneumonia.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Verdacht' (suspicion) belongs to a word family with the verb 'jemanden verdächtigen' (to suspect someone) and the adjective 'verdächtig' (suspicious). All three words refer to the assumption that something is not right.
EXAMPLE
Sein Verhalten war sehr verdächtig.
His behavior was very suspicious.
Correct preposition
To express what the suspicion refers to, German uses the preposition 'auf' followed by the accusative. This construction is very common.
EXAMPLE
Es besteht der Verdacht auf Betrug.
There is suspicion of fraud.
Fixed expression
A very important fixed expression is 'unter Verdacht stehen' (to be under suspicion). It means that a person is suspected by others.
EXAMPLE
Seit dem Diebstahl steht er unter Verdacht.
Since the theft, he has been under suspicion.
Typical collocations
In a legal context, there are fixed verb-noun combinations such as 'Verdacht schöpfen' (to start suspecting something) or 'einen Verdacht hegen' (to harbor a suspicion). When a suspicion becomes stronger, 'erhärtet er sich' (it is substantiated).
EXAMPLE
Als sie die zerbrochene Scheibe sah, schöpfte sie sofort Verdacht.
When she saw the broken window, she immediately became suspicious.
Compare with
Verdacht vs Annahme
assumption / acceptance
Here, a Verdacht concerns a specific possible crime and casts suspicion on someone. An Annahme is a more general unproven hypothesis that can serve as a basis for further thought. Verdacht therefore fits a possible perpetrator, while Annahme fits a provisional working assumption.
Verdacht
Nach dem Fund der Fingerabdrücke besteht der Verdacht, dass der Nachbar eingebrochen ist.
After the fingerprints were found, there was suspicion that the neighbor had broken in.
Annahme
Für die weitere Suche arbeitet die Polizei mit der Annahme, dass der Täter aus der Nachbarschaft kommt.
For the continuing search, the police are working on the assumption that the perpetrator is from the neighborhood.
In real life
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