verdächtigen

Verdächtigen is a German verb meaning to suspect someone of having committed a crime or wrongdoing, or to regard something as likely or plausible. It is transitive and typically takes a person as its direct object, often with a genitive phrase naming the suspected offense. Common constructions include jdn. des Verbrechens verdächtigen. For example: Die Polizei verdächtigt ihn des Diebstahls. In everyday speech one can say Ich verdächtige ihn, but the phrase often carries a formal or investigative nuance.

Usage notes: Verdächtigen expresses an accusation of suspicion rather than proven guilt. It implies that there are grounds for questioning someone, but it stops short of a formal accusation. It is distinct from beschuldigen, which signals a stronger assertion of guilt. In legal or investigative contexts, Verdächtigungen can be reported or discussed as part of the process of determining responsibility, not as established fact.

Noun forms: Verdächtige can function as a noun referring to a suspect. The masculine singular is der Verdächtige, the feminine die Verdächtige, and the plural die Verdächtigen. The noun is closely related to the adjective verdächtig, which means suspicious or suspected in appearance or conduct, and can describe people or circumstances (e.g., eine verdächtige Person, verdächtig wirken).

Etymology and related forms: Verdächtigen derives from Verdacht (suspicion) and the related adjective verdächtig. The past participle is verdächtigt, used in perfect tense with haben (er hat ihn verdächtigt). The term appears in journalism, police reports, and legal language, as well as in standard German when discussing suspicion and inquiry.