ermittelst

Ermittelst is the second-person singular present tense form of the German verb ermitteln. The infinitive ermitteln means to determine, ascertain, or investigate by examining facts, data, or evidence. The form ermittelst is used when addressing someone informally with du, for example: Du ermittelst die Ursache des Problems.

The verb ermitteln is transitive and commonly takes a direct object, such as eine Ursache, Daten or Ergebnisse. Typical uses include everyday problem solving, scientific inquiry, and formal investigations. In neutral prose or reporting, one might say: Die Polizei ermittelt den Verdächtigen, um den Tathergang zu klären. In dialogue, ermittelst conveys direct address: Du ermittelst die Fakten, bevor du urteilst.

Conjugation and morphology are regular for this verb. The standard forms are: ich ermittle, du ermittelst, er ermittelt, wir ermitteln, ihr ermittelt, Sie ermitteln. The second-person singular form ermittelst is the usual way to express “you determine” in informal speech or writing. The corresponding formal address uses Sie ermitteln.

Etymologically, ermitteln is formed with the prefix er- added to mitteln or mittels, reflecting a sense of completing, determining, or bringing something to light. The term is widely used across domains such as law, journalism, science, and everyday language, with nuances ranging from simply finding out information to conducting a formal inquiry.

See also: ermitteln, Feststellen, Herausfinden.