mogeln
cheat
Bei einem Spiel oder einer Arbeit nicht ehrlich sein, um einen Vorteil zu bekommen.
Definition & meaning
mogeln is an informal German verb meaning to cheat, deceive, or obtain an advantage dishonestly, usually in a relatively minor or non-serious situation.
It can also mean:
-
To cheat, especially in a game, test, or competition.
- Er hat beim Test gemogelt. — “He cheated on the test.”
- Sie mogelt beim Kartenspiel. — “She cheats at cards.”
-
To cut corners or manipulate something dishonestly in order to achieve a result more easily.
- Er hat bei der Abrechnung ein bisschen gemogelt. — “He fudged the accounts a little.”
-
sich mogeln: to sneak or work one’s way into, through, or out of something, often by using a trick.
- Er hat sich in die Veranstaltung gemogelt. — “He sneaked into the event.”
- Sie hat sich durch die Prüfung gemogelt. — “She managed to get through the exam by cheating or using shortcuts.”
The word is generally colloquial and often suggests relatively harmless or petty cheating, though the seriousness depends on the context.
Grammar & Word origin
- Infinitive: mogeln
- Verb type: weak, separable only in combinations such as sich durchmogeln
- Present tense:
- ich mogele/mogle — I cheat
- du mogelst/mogelst — you cheat
- er/sie mogelt/mogelt — he/she cheats
- Simple past: mogelte
- Past participle: gemogelt
- Auxiliary verb: haben — Er hat gemogelt.
Common reflexive and compound forms include:
- sich mogeln — to sneak or cheat one’s way
- sich durchmogeln — to muddle or cheat one’s way through
- jemanden überm ogeln — not standard; the usual forms are jemanden überlisten or jemanden täuschen
The word is colloquial in origin. Its exact etymology is uncertain, but it is traditionally connected with older German dialectal forms expressing deceptive or underhanded behavior.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- schummeln — the closest common synonym; often used for cheating in school, games, or tests and can sound slightly less serious.
- betrügen — to cheat or deceive; broader and usually more serious than mogeln.
- täuschen — to deceive or mislead someone; it emphasizes deception rather than rule-breaking.
- tricksen — to use tricks or clever methods, sometimes dishonestly; it can be less clearly immoral than mogeln.
- pfuschen — to do poor or careless work, or to cut corners; it does not necessarily involve deliberate cheating.
- sich durchmogeln — to get through a situation by cheating, avoiding effort, or using shortcuts.
Antonyms
- ehrlich sein — to be honest; the general opposite of cheating or deception.
- fair spielen — to play fairly; especially the opposite of mogeln in games or competitions.
- sich an die Regeln halten — to follow the rules; the direct opposite when mogeln means breaking rules.
- korrekt handeln — to act correctly or properly; broader and more formal than the opposite of mogeln.
Common phrases & collocations
- bei einer Prüfung mogeln — to cheat on an exam
- bei einem Spiel mogeln — to cheat in a game
- bei den Hausaufgaben mogeln — to cheat on one’s homework
- sich in eine Veranstaltung mogeln — to sneak into an event
- sich durch eine Prüfung mogeln — to get through an exam by cheating or using shortcuts
- ein bisschen mogeln — to fudge or bend the rules a little
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Examples
Du mogelst beim Spiel.verb
You cheat in the game.
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