interrogation
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interrogation
The formal and official questioning of a person by an authority, especially by the police, the public prosecutor's office, or a court. The aim is to clarify the facts of a case.
Der Zeuge wurde zur Vernehmung auf die Polizeiwache geladen.
The witness was summoned to the police station for interrogation.
'Die Vernehmung' (interrogation) is the noun related to the verb 'vernehmen'. The verb means 'to question someone officially' or also 'to perceive something'. The ending '-ung' turns the action into a noun and is always feminine.
Der Polizist wird den Zeugen morgen vernehmen.
The police officer will interrogate the witness tomorrow.
This word firmly belongs to legal and police language. It is a formal term for official questioning and is not used in everyday life for normal conversations.
Die Vernehmung fand im Beisein seines Anwalts statt.
The interrogation took place in the presence of his lawyer.
Common combinations are 'polizeiliche Vernehmung' (police interrogation) or 'gerichtliche Vernehmung' (court interrogation). Someone is 'zu einer Vernehmung geladen' (summoned for interrogation) or 'einer Vernehmung unterzogen' (subjected to interrogation). The person being questioned often appears in the genitive: 'die Vernehmung des Zeugen' (the interrogation of the witness).
Die Vernehmung des Angeklagten dauerte mehrere Stunden.
The interrogation of the defendant lasted several hours.
statement
'die Aussage' and 'die Vernehmung' both often occur in official situations, for example with the police or in court. But they do not mean the same thing. 'die Aussage' is the content or statement that a person gives. 'die Vernehmung' is the formal questioning itself, meaning the situation in which questions are asked. Learners may confuse the words because a statement is often made during an interrogation. Remember: 'die Vernehmung' is the process, while 'die Aussage' is what is said during it.
Vor der Vernehmung wartet die Zeugin nervös im Flur.
Before the interrogation, the witness waits nervously in the hallway.
Nach dem Unfall schrieb der Polizist die Aussage des Fahrers auf.
After the accident, the police officer wrote down the driver's statement.