to interrogate / to mishear
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to interrogate
To question a person, especially a suspect or witness, officially and systematically, usually by the police or an authority.
Die Polizei verhörte den Verdächtigen die ganze Nacht.
The police interrogated the suspect all night.
to mishear
To understand something incorrectly by hearing it wrong, or to believe you heard something that was not said.
Entschuldigung, habe ich mich verhört oder hast du gerade gesagt, dass du kündigst?
Sorry, did I mishear you, or did you just say that you're quitting?
'Verhören' (to interrogate / to mishear) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always remains connected to the stem 'hören' (to hear), including in the past participle ('verhört') and in subordinate clauses.
Der Zeuge wurde gestern verhört.
The witness was interrogated yesterday.
The meaning changes completely depending on whether the verb is used reflexively or transitively. 'Jemanden verhören' (to interrogate someone; transitive) means to question a person officially. 'Sich verhören' (to mishear; reflexive) means to hear something incorrectly.
Die Ermittler verhören den Hauptverdächtigen.
The investigators are interrogating the main suspect.
In the context of official questioning, the subjects are often authorities such as 'die Polizei' (the police), 'die Staatsanwaltschaft' (the public prosecutor's office), or 'der Ermittler' (the investigator). The objects are usually 'der Zeuge' (the witness), 'der Verdächtige' (the suspect), or 'der Angeklagte' (the defendant).
Die Staatsanwaltschaft wird die Zeugin morgen verhören.
The public prosecutor's office will interrogate the witness tomorrow.
'Sich verhören' (to mishear) is very often used in a question to express surprise or disbelief at something you heard.
Moment, habe ich mich da gerade verhört? Du ziehst nach Australien?
Wait, did I just mishear that? You're moving to Australia?
to question / to perceive
Vernehmen is the particularly formal legal term for an official questioning, for example in court. Verhören refers to targeted and systematic questioning, usually by the police or authorities. Both can be used for suspects or witnesses, but they emphasize different aspects.
Die Polizei verhört den Verdächtigen systematisch zu seinen Beobachtungen.
The police systematically interrogated the suspect about what they had observed.
Die Richterin vernimmt den Zeugen offiziell zu seinen Beobachtungen.
The judge officially questioned the witness about what they had observed.
