When you want to say that someone is guilty or responsible for something in German, you use the phrase "schuld sein."
It literally means "to be debt/fault," but it's used to express culpability or responsibility.
You often pair it with "an + Dativ" to specify what someone is guilty or responsible for.
For example, "Er ist schuld an dem Unfall" means "He is responsible for the accident."
When you want to express that someone is guilty or responsible for something in German, you use the phrase "schuld sein." This is a very common and practical phrase. It's often used with the preposition "an" to specify what someone is guilty or responsible for. For example, if someone broke a vase, you could say "Er ist schuld an der kaputten Vase."
You can also use "schuld sein" to take responsibility yourself. If you made a mistake, you might say "Ich bin schuld." This phrase is straightforward and widely understood, making it an essential part of your German vocabulary for everyday conversations.
schuld sein em 30 segundos
- Use "schuld sein" to say someone is responsible.
- It often implies blame for something negative.
- Commonly used in everyday conversations.
Guia de pronúncia
- confusing 'schuld' with 'Schuld' (noun - guilt/debt)
Exemplos por nível
Ich bin schuld.
I am to blame.
Du bist schuld an dem Problem.
You are responsible for the problem.
Er ist nicht schuld daran.
He is not guilty of it.
Wir sind schuld an dem Unfall.
We are to blame for the accident.
Seid ihr schuld?
Are you (plural, informal) guilty?
Sie sind schuld an der Situation.
They are responsible for the situation.
Wer ist schuld?
Who is to blame?
Es ist meine Schuld.
It is my fault.
Here, 'Schuld' is a noun, meaning 'fault'.
Wer ist schuld daran?
Who is guilty of this? / Who is to blame for this?
A common question to ask who caused a problem.
Ich bin nicht schuld an dem Unfall.
I am not responsible for the accident.
Used with 'an + Dativ' to specify what one is not responsible for.
Sie war schuld daran, dass wir zu spät kamen.
She was to blame for us being late.
Can be used to assign blame for a negative outcome.
Der Regen ist schuld an der schlechten Ernte.
The rain is responsible for the bad harvest.
Can be used for inanimate objects or natural phenomena causing something.
Er ist schuld, dass das Projekt gescheitert ist.
He is to blame that the project failed.
Used with a 'dass' clause to explain the consequence of being at fault.
Seid ihr schuld an dem Durcheinander?
Are you (plural) responsible for the mess?
A direct question to inquire about responsibility.
Niemand ist schuld, es war ein Unfall.
No one is to blame, it was an accident.
Used to absolve everyone of responsibility.
Wir sind alle ein bisschen schuld daran.
We are all a little bit responsible for it.
Acknowledging shared responsibility.
Frequentemente confundido com
A common phrase meaning 'to be to blame' or 'to be at fault'.
Specifically means 'to have debts', using the plural form of 'Schuld'.
Means 'to blame someone'.
Padrões gramaticais
Fácil de confundir
Often confused with 'fault' or 'guilt' but can also mean 'debt'.
'Schuld' can refer to guilt, fault, or a financial debt. The context usually clarifies the meaning.
Ich habe keine Schuld. (I am not guilty/at fault.) Er hat viele Schulden. (He has a lot of debts.)
Similar to 'Schuld' but specifically refers to the feeling of guilt.
'Schuldgefühl' is a compound word meaning 'guilt feeling'. It's the emotion, not the state of being guilty.
Sie hatte ein starkes Schuldgefühl. (She had a strong feeling of guilt.)
Can be confused with 'schuld sein' in the sense of being responsible.
'Verantwortlich sein' means to be responsible for something, often in a neutral or positive way. 'Schuld sein' implies blame or fault.
Er ist für das Projekt verantwortlich. (He is responsible for the project.)
Often translated as 'fault' which can overlap with 'Schuld'.
'Fehler' specifically means a mistake or an error. While a mistake can lead to 'Schuld', 'Fehler' itself isn't about guilt.
Das war ein großer Fehler. (That was a big mistake.)
Similar to 'responsible' or 'liable', which can be related to 'Schuld'.
'Haften' means to be liable or to be held responsible, often in a legal or financial sense. It's about accountability rather than moral guilt.
Die Firma haftet für den Schaden. (The company is liable for the damage.)
Padrões de frases
subject + sein + schuld
Ich bin schuld. (I am guilty/responsible.)
subject + sein + schuld + an + dative object
Du bist schuld an dem Problem. (You are responsible for the problem.)
subject + sein + schuld + daran + dass-clause
Er ist schuld daran, dass wir zu spät sind. (He is responsible for us being late.)
subject + sein + schuld + an + dative object (with adjective)
Sie ist schuld an der schlechten Stimmung. (She is responsible for the bad mood.)
subject + sein + schuld + an + personal pronoun (dative)
Wir sind schuld an euch. (We are to blame for you [being in this situation].)
fragen + ob + subject + schuld + ist
Fragen Sie, ob er schuld ist. (Ask if he is guilty/responsible.)
es + ist + subject + schuld
Es ist deine Schuld. (It is your fault.)
niemand + ist + schuld
Niemand ist schuld daran. (Nobody is to blame for it.)
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'schuld' sounding a bit like 'scold.' If someone is being 'scolded,' they might be 'guilty' or 'responsible.'
Associação visual
Imagine a judge in a courtroom, pointing at someone and saying 'Schuld!' with a stern face, indicating they are guilty.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to form sentences where you assign blame or responsibility using 'schuld sein.' For example: 'Ich bin schuld daran, dass...' (I am responsible for the fact that...). Write three sentences in German and then translate them into English.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasYou use 'schuld sein' with 'an' when talking about what someone is guilty or responsible for. For example: 'Er ist schuld an dem Unfall.' (He is responsible for the accident.)
Yes, it covers both. 'Sie ist schuld daran, dass wir den Zug verpasst haben.' (She is responsible for us missing the train.) Or, 'Er hat gestohlen, also ist er schuld.' (He stole, so he is guilty.)
Good question! 'Schuldig sein' is often more formal and can imply legal guilt, especially in a courtroom setting. 'Schuld sein' is more common in everyday conversation for both guilt and responsibility. For instance, 'Der Angeklagte wurde für schuldig befunden.' (The defendant was found guilty.) vs. 'Wer ist schuld?' (Who is to blame?)
They are very similar. 'Schuld sein' is more direct, like 'to be to blame.' 'Die Schuld haben' means 'to have the blame/fault.' 'Wer ist schuld?' (Who is to blame?) vs. 'Wer hat die Schuld?' (Who has the blame?)
Not really in the typical passive sense. You'd phrase it differently. Instead of 'The accident was been responsible for by him,' you'd say 'Er ist schuld an dem Unfall.' (He is responsible for the accident.)
You can say 'Ich bin schuld.' or 'Es ist meine Schuld.' Both are correct and commonly used.
No, you wouldn't use it directly with an infinitive clause. You'd typically use a 'dass' clause or 'an' with a noun/pronoun. For example: 'Sie ist schuld daran, dass wir zu spät sind.' (She is responsible for us being late.)
The most common preposition is 'an'. You use it with the dative case. For example: 'Er ist schuld am (an dem) Problem.' (He is responsible for the problem.) You can also use 'daran' when referring to a general situation or a previous statement. 'Sie ist schuld daran.' (She is responsible for that.)
In 'schuld sein,' 'schuld' is an adjective. The noun form is 'die Schuld' (the guilt/blame/debt). So, 'Er ist schuld.' (He is guilty/to blame.) but 'Die Schuld liegt bei ihm.' (The blame lies with him.)
Yes, 'Jemandem die Schuld geben' means 'to blame someone.' For example: 'Gib mir nicht die Schuld!' (Don't blame me!) Also, 'auf jemandes Schuld gehen' means 'to be someone's fault.' 'Das geht auf seine Schuld.' (That's his fault.)
Teste-se 60 perguntas
Wer ist an diesem Chaos ______?
'schuld sein' means 'to be guilty or responsible'. 'dankbar' means 'grateful', 'froh' means 'glad', and 'müde' means 'tired'.
Ich bin nicht ______ für den Fehler.
'schuld sein' means 'to be guilty or responsible'. 'satt' means 'full' (from eating), 'kalt' means 'cold', and 'warm' means 'warm'.
Bist du ______ daran, dass der Kuchen weg ist?
'schuld sein' means 'to be guilty or responsible'. 'glücklich' means 'happy', 'traurig' means 'sad', and 'hungrig' means 'hungry'.
Sie ist ______ am Unfall.
'schuld sein' means 'to be guilty or responsible'. 'nett' means 'nice', 'böse' means 'angry' or 'evil', and 'lieb' means 'dear' or 'kind'.
Wir sind nicht ______ für das Problem.
'schuld sein' means 'to be guilty or responsible'. 'klein' means 'small', 'groß' means 'big', and 'neu' means 'new'.
Er war nicht ______ daran, dass er zu spät kam.
'schuld sein' means 'to be guilty or responsible'. 'fröhlich' means 'cheerful', 'reich' means 'rich', and 'arm' means 'poor'.
Which sentence means 'He is responsible for the mistake'?
'schuld sein' is used with 'an + dative' or 'dass' to indicate responsibility or guilt.
Choose the correct translation for 'Whose fault is it?'
'Wer' is the correct interrogative pronoun for asking about a person's responsibility.
Complete the sentence: 'Du bist ___ dass es regnet.'
To say someone is responsible for something (even playfully), we use 'schuld sein'.
The phrase 'schuld sein' can be used to express guilt.
'schuld sein' means 'to be guilty' or 'to be responsible'.
You can only use 'schuld sein' for serious crimes.
'schuld sein' can be used for minor responsibilities or playful blame as well as serious guilt.
The sentence 'Ich bin schuld daran.' means 'I am happy about that.'
'Ich bin schuld daran' means 'I am responsible for that' or 'I am to blame for that.'
Who is responsible for the chaos?
I am not guilty of that.
Are you to blame for the accident?
Read this aloud:
Sie ist schuld an der Situation.
Focus: schuld
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Wir sind schuld an dem Fehler.
Focus: schuld
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Er war schuld daran, dass wir zu spät kamen.
Focus: schuld
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Wer war ___ an dem Unfall?
The phrase is 'schuld sein' which means 'to be guilty or responsible'. 'Schuld' is the correct form here.
Ich bin nicht ___ daran, dass wir zu spät sind.
'Schuld sein an etwas' is the correct phrasing to express responsibility for something.
Er wollte nicht ___ sein, also hat er sich entschuldigt.
In this context, 'schuld sein' means 'to be at fault'.
Wer ist ___ dafür, dass das Projekt gescheitert ist?
Here, 'schuld sein für etwas' implies being responsible for the failure of the project.
Sie hat zugegeben, dass sie ___ war.
To admit to being guilty or responsible, 'schuld sein' is the right idiom.
Das Kind war ___ daran, dass die Vase zerbrochen ist.
The phrase 'schuld sein an etwas' is used to indicate who is responsible for an event.
Someone is asking if they were responsible for something.
Someone is asking who caused the mess.
Someone feels guilty about forgetting an appointment.
Read this aloud:
Ich bin nicht schuld an dem Problem.
Focus: schuld
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Du bist schuld daran, dass wir zu spät sind.
Focus: daran
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Sie ist schuld am Unfall.
Focus: Unfall
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Wählen Sie die richtige Antwort: 'Er ist _____ am Misserfolg des Projekts.'
When used with 'sein', 'schuld' is an adjective and not capitalized. 'Schuldig' is also an adjective but often implies a legal guilt.
Welcher Satz drückt aus, dass jemand die Verantwortung trägt?
The phrase 'schuld sein' directly means to be responsible. While 'Das ist ihre Schuld' is grammatically correct, 'Er ist schuld daran' directly uses the phrase in question.
Welche Präposition wird typischerweise mit 'schuld sein' verwendet, wenn man die Ursache angibt?
The correct preposition when stating the cause or reason for which someone is guilty/responsible is 'an' (dative).
Der Ausdruck 'schuld sein' kann sowohl 'schuldig sein' als auch 'verantwortlich sein' bedeuten.
'Schuld sein' encompasses both the idea of being guilty (often legally or morally) and being responsible for something that happened.
Man verwendet 'Schuld sein' (mit großem 'S') in der Bedeutung 'verantwortlich sein'.
'Schuld' as a noun is capitalized, but in the phrase 'schuld sein', 'schuld' functions as an adjective and is therefore lowercase.
Wenn man sagt 'Ich bin nicht schuld', bedeutet das, dass man sich schuldig fühlt.
'Ich bin nicht schuld' means 'I am not responsible/guilty', indicating a lack of culpability, not a feeling of guilt.
Wer war am Ende für das Missverständnis ___?
The phrase is 'schuld sein'. Here, 'schuld' is used as an adjective.
Die ganze Firma ist an dem Fiasko ___ gewesen.
'Schuld sein' is a fixed expression. You use 'schuld' here, not 'schuldig'.
Ich bin nicht ___ an dem Problem; ich habe nur Anweisungen befolgt.
The correct idiom is 'schuld sein'.
Wer ist dafür ___ wenn der Plan scheitert?
To be guilty or responsible is 'schuld sein'.
Wir dürfen nicht vergessen, dass jeder Einzelne an der Situation ___ ist.
The phrase requires 'schuld'.
Du warst doch nicht etwa ___ an dem Unfall, oder?
The correct usage is 'schuld sein'.
This sentence structure correctly places 'nicht' before 'ganz allein' and 'am Unglück' at the end as the object of responsibility.
This sentence emphasizes being aware of actions due to potential responsibility, with 'schuld sein' at the end of the subordinate clause.
This sentence structure correctly places 'schuld daran' at the end, referring back to 'etwas schiefgeht'.
Despite being the project leader, she wasn't to blame for the failure.
The government was responsible for the economic crisis, as its measures were insufficient.
He admitted that he was guilty of the accident, even though it was an oversight.
Read this aloud:
Warst du schuld an der Eskalation des Streits?
Focus: schuld
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Niemand war schuld an dem Missverständnis; es war einfach eine Verkettung unglücklicher Umstände.
Focus: Missverständnis
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Die mangelnde Kommunikation war schuld an den Verzögerungen im Zeitplan.
Focus: mangelnde Kommunikation
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'He was not solely to blame for the misery.' The correct order follows the typical German sentence structure.
This sentence means 'The government bears the main blame for the economic crisis.' 'Trägt die Hauptschuld' is a common collocation.
This sentence means 'Although he regretted it, he was still responsible for the failure of the project.' 'Obwohl' introduces a subordinate clause.
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Remember that "schuld sein" means to be guilty or responsible, usually for something negative, and it's a very practical phrase to know.
- Use "schuld sein" to say someone is responsible.
- It often implies blame for something negative.
- Commonly used in everyday conversations.
Exemplo
Niemand ist schuld an diesem Unglück.
Conteúdo relacionado
Frases relacionadas
Mais palavras de society
Aktivist
A2activist
Amt
A2É um lugar onde as pessoas trabalham em uma função oficial ou pública.
Arbeitslosigkeit
A2Descreve a situação de não ter um emprego, o que pode ser difícil para muitas pessoas.
Armut
A2A situação de não ter dinheiro suficiente para suprir as necessidades básicas.
ausgrenzen
B1Não permitir que alguém faça parte de um grupo ou atividade.
begegnen
A2Encontrar (begegnen) significa conhecer ou cruzar-se com alguém por acaso.
begleiten
A2Ir com alguém a algum lugar. Significa fazer companhia à pessoa durante o trajeto.
Behörde
A2É uma organização oficial com o poder de criar ou aplicar regras.
Beitrag
B1É algo que você adiciona, como um artigo num jornal ou a sua opinião numa discussão.
beitragen
A2Dar algo, como tempo ou dinheiro, para ajudar uma causa ou grupo.
