When you're learning German, you'll come across words that have multiple meanings, just like in English. 'Das Recht' is one of those words.
At an A1 level, the most common meaning you'll need to know is 'right' in the sense of a legal or moral entitlement. Think of it as what someone is allowed to have or do.
For example, if you say someone has a right to something, you would use 'das Recht'.
It's always a good idea to learn the definite article with nouns, so remember it's das Recht.
das Recht 30초 만에
- entitlement
- legal claim
- justice
§ Basic Usage: 'haben' and 'sein'
The most common way to use das Recht is with the verbs haben (to have) or sein (to be). It works similarly to how we use "right" in English, referring to a legal or moral entitlement.
- Meaning
- To have a right.
Jeder Mensch hat das Recht auf Bildung. (Every person has the right to education.)
- Meaning
- It is a right.
Es ist mein Recht, meine Meinung zu äußern. (It is my right to express my opinion.)
§ Prepositions with 'das Recht'
When you're talking about the object or topic of the right, you'll often use specific prepositions. Here are the most common ones:
auf + Accusative: This is used when a right is directed towards something or someone, often something you are entitled to receive or do. Think of it as "right to" or "right for."
Sie hat das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung. (She has the right to free expression of opinion.)
Wir haben das Recht auf sauberes Wasser. (We have the right to clean water.)
zu + Dative: This preposition indicates a right to do something, often an action or participation. It translates closely to "right to" followed by a verb in English.
Jeder Bürger hat das Recht zu wählen. (Every citizen has the right to vote.)
Kinder haben das Recht zu spielen. (Children have the right to play.)
auf + Accusative (often with an infinitive clause using zu): Sometimes, you'll see a combination, especially when the right is for a specific action or outcome. This is more formal.
Sie hat das Recht darauf, gehört zu werden. (She has the right to be heard.)
§ Common Expressions with 'das Recht'
Beyond simple sentences, das Recht appears in several useful fixed expressions.
- Expression
- jemandem Recht geben
- Meaning
- To agree with someone; to admit someone is right.
Ich muss Ihnen Recht geben, die Situation ist kompliziert. (I have to agree with you, the situation is complicated.)
- Expression
- Recht haben
- Meaning
- To be right.
Du hast Recht, das ist der beste Weg. (You are right, that is the best way.)
- Expression
- zu Recht
- Meaning
- Rightfully, deservedly.
Er hat sich zu Recht beschwert. (He complained rightfully/deservedly.)
Understanding these common patterns will help you integrate das Recht naturally into your German conversations. Pay attention to the prepositions and the context, and you'll get it right!
How Formal Is It?
"Sie haben die Berechtigung, an dieser Besprechung teilzunehmen. (You have the right/authorization to participate in this meeting.)"
"Jeder Mensch hat das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung. (Every person has the right to free speech.)"
"Ich habe einen Anspruch auf eine Pause. (I have a right/claim to a break.)"
"Du hast ein Anrecht auf ein Stück Kuchen! (You have a right to a piece of cake!)"
"Ich hab' da nen Anspruch drauf, Mann. (I have a claim to that, man.)"
알아야 할 문법
German nouns are always capitalized.
Das Recht ist wichtig. (The right is important.)
The gender of 'Recht' is neuter, indicated by the definite article 'das'.
Das Recht auf Bildung. (The right to education.)
'Recht' can also mean 'justice' or 'law' depending on the context.
Vor dem Recht sind alle gleich. (Before the law, everyone is equal.)
The plural of 'das Recht' is 'die Rechte', which can also mean 'the rights' or 'the laws'.
Menschen haben Rechte. (People have rights.)
When referring to a specific right, it's often used with a preposition like 'auf' (on/to) or 'zu' (to).
Das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung. (The right to freedom of expression.)
수준별 예문
Jeder Mensch hat das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung.
Every person has the right to freedom of expression.
Here, 'das Recht auf' means 'the right to'.
Sie haben das Recht zu schweigen.
You have the right to remain silent.
A common phrase in legal contexts.
Kinder haben ein Recht auf Bildung.
Children have a right to education.
Used with 'ein Recht auf' when referring to a general right.
Ist das dein gutes Recht?
Is that your good right? (Meaning: Is that really your entitlement?)
'Gutes Recht' emphasizes a strong entitlement.
Wir kämpfen für unsere Rechte.
We are fighting for our rights.
Plural form 'Rechte'.
Er hat das Recht, hier zu sein.
He has the right to be here.
Used with 'das Recht, zu + infinitive' for the right to do something.
Das ist mein Recht und das werde ich nutzen.
That is my right and I will use it.
A direct and assertive statement.
Sie besteht auf ihrem Recht.
She insists on her right.
'Bestehen auf' means 'to insist on'.
사용법
"Das Recht" is a neuter noun, so it takes the definite article "das" and follows typical neuter noun declension patterns. For example:
- Nominative: das Recht (the right)
- Genitive: des Rechts (of the right)
- Dative: dem Recht (to the right)
- Accusative: das Recht (the right)
A common mistake is confusing "das Recht" (the right, an entitlement) with "rechts" (right, as in direction or on the right side). Another error is using it interchangeably with "die Gerechtigkeit" (justice), though they are related concepts. While a right can be an aspect of justice, they are not synonyms. Remember, "das Recht" is about what one is entitled to, legally or morally.
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'das Recht' sounding a bit like 'the right direction' or 'the right choice'. If you have a 'right', you're moving in the correct way according to rules or morality.
시각적 연상
Imagine a judge in a courtroom holding a large book labeled 'Das Recht', representing law and justice. Or picture a person pointing definitively, declaring 'This is my Right!' with a strong, upright posture.
Word Web
챌린지
Try to form a sentence using 'das Recht' about something you believe everyone should be entitled to. For example: 'Jeder sollte das Recht auf ____ haben.' (Everyone should have the right to ____.)
셀프 테스트 36 질문
Write a simple sentence using 'Recht' to say 'You have the right.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Du hast das Recht.
Write a simple sentence asking 'Is that right?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ist das Recht?
Write a simple sentence saying 'I have a right to rest.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ich habe ein Recht auf Ruhe.
Wer hat Rechte?
Read this passage:
Jeder Mensch hat Rechte. Das ist wichtig für alle. Kinder haben auch Rechte. Zum Beispiel, das Recht zu spielen.
Wer hat Rechte?
The passage says 'Jeder Mensch hat Rechte', which means 'Every person has rights'.
The passage says 'Jeder Mensch hat Rechte', which means 'Every person has rights'.
Was sagt der Sprecher über seine Anwesenheit?
Read this passage:
Es ist mein Recht, hier zu sein. Ich darf hier bleiben. Du hast auch Rechte in diesem Raum.
Was sagt der Sprecher über seine Anwesenheit?
The first sentence 'Es ist mein Recht, hier zu sein' means 'It is my right to be here'.
The first sentence 'Es ist mein Recht, hier zu sein' means 'It is my right to be here'.
Was ist ein Recht der Bürger in Deutschland?
Read this passage:
In Deutschland haben Bürger viele Rechte. Zum Beispiel das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung. Das bedeutet, man darf sagen, was man denkt.
Was ist ein Recht der Bürger in Deutschland?
The passage explicitly states 'das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung' as an example of a right citizens have in Germany.
The passage explicitly states 'das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung' as an example of a right citizens have in Germany.
This sentence means 'Everyone has the right to education.' It follows the standard German sentence structure: Subject (Jeder) + Verb (hat) + Object (das Recht) + Prepositional phrase (auf Bildung).
This means 'You (formal) have the right to know.' The infinitive 'zu wissen' comes at the end.
This sentence translates to 'He fights for his rights.' 'Für' is a preposition that takes the accusative case, and 'seine Rechte' is the accusative plural.
This sentence means 'Every person has the right to a life.' We start with the subject 'Jeder Mensch', then the verb 'hat', followed by the object 'das Recht' and the prepositional phrase 'auf ein Leben'.
The correct order is 'They do not know their right'. We place the subject 'Sie' first, then the verb 'haben', followed by the possessive adjective 'ihr', the noun 'Recht', and finally the negation 'nicht' before the verb 'wissen'.
This translates to 'That is my good right!' The demonstrative pronoun 'Das' starts the sentence, followed by the verb 'ist', the possessive adjective 'mein', the adjective 'gutes', and finally the noun 'Recht'.
Jeder Mensch hat ___ Recht auf Bildung. (Every person has the right to education.)
Here, 'das Recht' is used in a general sense, referring to a fundamental right, so the definite article 'das' is correct.
Sie kämpfen für ihre ___ Rechte. (They are fighting for their basic rights.)
The adjective 'grundlegenden' (basic) needs to agree with the plural noun 'Rechte' in the accusative case.
Er hat das ___ gesprochen. (He has spoken the truth/He was right.)
The idiom 'das Recht sprechen' means to speak the truth or to be right in a judgment. While 'Wahrheit' also means truth, the phrase is 'das Recht sprechen'.
Ist das dein gutes ___? (Is that your good right/privilege?)
The phrase 'sein gutes Recht' refers to something that is rightfully one's own or a justified claim. 'Recht' is a strong masculine noun in the nominative case here.
Sie haben das ___ auf freie Meinungsäußerung. (They have the right to freedom of expression.)
Similar to the first exercise, 'das Recht' is used in a general sense to denote a fundamental human right, requiring the definite article 'das'.
Manchmal muss man für seine ___ kämpfen. (Sometimes you have to fight for your rights.)
'Rechte' is the plural form of 'das Recht', and it is in the accusative case here, as it's the object of the verb 'kämpfen für'.
Jeder Mensch hat das ___ auf freie Meinungsäußerung.
Here, 'Recht' means a fundamental human right, the right to free speech.
Es ist mein gutes ___ , pünktlich bezahlt zu werden.
'Gutes Recht' is a common idiom meaning a legitimate claim or entitlement.
Die Regierung muss die ___ der Bürger schützen.
In this context, 'Rechte' refers to the legal and moral entitlements of citizens.
Das Unternehmen hat das ___ , diesen Vertrag zu kündigen.
Here, 'Recht' signifies the legal authority or power to terminate the contract.
Sie kämpft für die ___ der Frauen in der Gesellschaft.
'Rechte' is used in the plural to talk about women's rights in general.
Es ist nur ___ und billig, dass wir eine Erklärung erhalten.
'Recht und billig' is an idiom meaning 'fair and reasonable'.
This sentence means 'Everyone has the right to education.' It follows the standard German sentence structure: Subject (Jeder) + Verb (hat) + Object (das Recht auf Bildung).
This sentence means 'They are fighting for their right to free speech.' The verb 'kämpfen' (to fight) takes the preposition 'für' (for), followed by the accusative object 'ihr Recht'. 'Auf' (on/for) then introduces 'freie Meinungsäußerung' (free speech).
This sentence means 'It is your right to receive this information.' The phrase 'Es ist Ihr Recht' (It is your right) is followed by a 'zu' infinitive clause indicating what the right entails.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Das Recht means 'right' or 'law' and describes what is legally or morally permissible or owed.
- entitlement
- legal claim
- justice
관련 콘텐츠
관련 문법 규칙
family 관련 단어
Abstammung
B1자신의 뿌리가 되는 혈통이나 출신을 말해요.
adoptieren
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adoptiert
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Adoption
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Adoptiveltern
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Adoptivkind
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Ahn
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Ahne
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ähneln
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Ahnen
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