Meaning
To commit a mistake or inaccuracy.
Cultural Background
German 'Fehlerkultur' (error culture) in companies is evolving. While historically very strict, modern German firms try to see an 'Irrtum' as a chance for process improvement. The German Civil Code (§ 119 BGB) explicitly uses the word 'Irrtum'. It allows people to withdraw from a contract if they made a specific type of error. In German universities, admitting an 'Irrtum' in your thesis is seen as a sign of intellectual honesty and 'Wissenschaftlichkeit' (scientific rigor). German news anchors use this phrase to maintain a neutral, objective tone when reporting on political scandals or economic failures.
Sound like a Pro
Use this phrase in business emails when you need to apologize. It sounds much more professional than 'Sorry, my fault'.
Don't Overuse
If you use this for small things (like a typo), you will sound sarcastic or weirdly formal.
Meaning
To commit a mistake or inaccuracy.
Sound like a Pro
Use this phrase in business emails when you need to apologize. It sounds much more professional than 'Sorry, my fault'.
Don't Overuse
If you use this for small things (like a typo), you will sound sarcastic or weirdly formal.
Legal Weight
Be careful using this in legal contexts; it has specific meanings regarding the validity of contracts.
Verb Choice
Always pair 'Irrtum' with 'begehen' or 'unterliegen'. Never 'machen'.
Test Yourself
Füllen Sie die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von 'begehen'.
Gestern ________ der {der|m} Minister einen {der|m} schweren Irrtum.
The sentence is in the past tense (Gestern), so we need the Präteritum form 'beging'.
Welcher Satz ist am natürlichsten in einem formellen Geschäftsbrief?
Wie würden Sie einen Fehler in einer Kalkulation zugeben?
'Irrtum begehen' is the correct formal collocation.
Verbinden Sie das Nomen mit dem passenden Verb.
Nomen: 1. {der|m} Fehler, 2. {der|m} Irrtum, 3. {das|n} Verbrechen
You 'make' a Fehler, but you 'commit' (begehen) an Irrtum or a Verbrechen.
Vervollständigen Sie den Dialog.
A: Warum wurde der {der|m} Vertrag storniert? B: Weil eine {die|f} Partei einen ________ ________.
In a legal context (contract), 'Irrtum begangen' is the most appropriate phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Fehler vs. Irrtum
Common Collocations with 'begehen'
Negative
- • {der|m} Irrtum
- • {das|n} Verbrechen
- • {der|m} Verrat
Neutral/Formal
- • {der|m} Weg
- • {die|f} Grenze
Positive (Rare)
- • {das|n} Jubiläum
- • {der|m} Feiertag
Practice Bank
4 exercisesGestern ________ der {der|m} Minister einen {der|m} schweren Irrtum.
The sentence is in the past tense (Gestern), so we need the Präteritum form 'beging'.
Wie würden Sie einen Fehler in einer Kalkulation zugeben?
'Irrtum begehen' is the correct formal collocation.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
You 'make' a Fehler, but you 'commit' (begehen) an Irrtum or a Verbrechen.
A: Warum wurde der {der|m} Vertrag storniert? B: Weil eine {die|f} Partei einen ________ ________.
In a legal context (contract), 'Irrtum begangen' is the most appropriate phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsMostly, but 'Irrtum' is more formal and implies a mistake in judgment or facts, while 'Fehler' is general.
It's grammatically understandable but sounds wrong to native speakers. Use 'begangen'.
It's used for crimes (ein {das|n} Verbrechen begehen) or suicides (Selbstmord begehen). This gives it a serious tone.
It is 'begangen'. Inseparable prefixes like 'be-' don't take '-ge-' in the perfect tense.
Only if you are being funny or dramatic. It's usually too formal for friends.
It's a specific legal term for making a mistake about what the law says.
Just say 'Ich habe mich geirrt'.
Usually yes, but it can also mean to celebrate a holiday (ein {das|n} Jubiläum begehen).
Die {die|f} Irrtümer.
It is masculine: {der|m} Irrtum.
Related Phrases
sich irren
similarTo be wrong
einem {der|m} Irrtum unterliegen
specialized formTo be under an error
einen {der|m} Fehler machen
synonymTo make a mistake
im {der|m} Irrtum sein
similarTo be in error
einen {der|m} Bock schießen
contrastTo make a blunder
