01
verurteilen
to sentence
To determine a punishment for a person in a court case.
example
Der Angeklagte wurde wegen Diebstahls zu einer Geldstrafe verurteilt.
The defendant was sentenced to a fine for theft.
verurteilen
to sentence / condemn
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'verurteilen' (to sentence/condemn) is inseparable. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the stem 'urteilen' in all sentence forms and tenses.
EXAMPLE
Das Gericht verurteilte den Mann.
The court sentenced the man.
Court-related sentence structure
In a legal context, the structure 'jemanden zu einer Strafe verurteilen' (to sentence someone to a punishment) is used, with the dative after 'zu'. Alternatively, the reason can be stated with 'wegen' and the genitive.
EXAMPLE
Sie wurde zu einer Bewährungsstrafe verurteilt.
She was sentenced to probation.
Typical collocations
When morally rejecting something, 'verurteilen' (to condemn) is often combined with strong adverbs to emphasize the disapproval. Typical phrases are 'scharf verurteilen' (to strongly condemn) or 'aufs Schärfste verurteilen' (to condemn in the strongest possible terms).
EXAMPLE
Die Politikerin verurteilte den Angriff scharf.
The politician strongly condemned the attack.
Fixed expression
The passive form 'zum Scheitern verurteilt sein' (to be doomed/condemned to failure) is a very common expression. It describes that a plan or project has no chance of success.
EXAMPLE
Ohne finanzielle Unterstützung ist das Projekt zum Scheitern verurteilt.
Without financial support, the project is doomed to failure.
Compare with
verurteilen vs kritisieren
to criticize
'verurteilen' and 'kritisieren' can both express that you think something is bad. 'kritisieren' usually means pointing out mistakes or problems. That can be harsh, but it can also be factual and helpful. 'verurteilen' is stronger: you clearly reject something on moral grounds, or a court imposes a sentence. Learners may confuse the words because both sound negative. If you are only saying what was done wrong or badly, 'kritisieren' fits. If you are very clearly rejecting an action or talking about a court, 'verurteilen' fits.
verurteilen
Viele Menschen verurteilen die Gewalt bei der Demonstration.
Many people condemn the violence at the demonstration.
kritisieren
Im Team kritisiert Anna den Plan, weil wichtige Informationen fehlen.
In the team, Anna criticizes the plan because important information is missing.
In real life
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