Vernehmer

Vernehmer is a German noun used in legal and administrative contexts to denote a person who is questioned during a Vernehmung, i.e., an interrogation or deposition. The term generally refers to the person who provides information under questioning, such as a witness, a suspect, or another party from whom statements are sought. The person conducting the interrogation is typically called the Vernehmende or Vernehmungsbeamte, while the Vernehmer is the respondent.

In official proceedings, a Vernehmer may give statements orally or in writing, sometimes under oath, and these statements can be used as evidence in investigations or court proceedings. The exact rights and safeguards available to a Vernehmer, such as access to legal counsel or the right not to answer certain questions, depend on the jurisdiction and the stage of the process. The label emphasizes the role of the person being questioned rather than the questioning official.

The term is common in German-language legal texts and transcripts, but in everyday language it is often replaced by Zeuge (witness) or Aussagegeber (person giving a statement). Vernehmer can include witnesses, suspects, or other participants who are asked to provide information relevant to a case. Etymologically, Vernehmer derives from vernehmen, meaning “to hear” or “to question,” with the agent suffix -er; the feminine form is Vernehmerin.