noun

das Urteil, -e

judgment · verdict

Eine Entscheidung oder Meinung, die jemand über etwas oder jemanden trifft.

Definition & meaning

Urteil is a neuter German noun meaning judgment, verdict, or opinion, depending on context.

Legal verdict or judgment
A formal decision made by a court about a case, often determining whether someone is guilty and what punishment applies.
- Das Gericht hat heute sein Urteil gesprochen. — “The court delivered its verdict today.”
- Das Urteil lautet auf Freispruch. — “The verdict is an acquittal.”
Assessment or opinion
A considered evaluation of a person, thing, or situation.
- Sein Urteil über den Film war sehr positiv. — “His opinion of the film was very positive.”
- Sie hat ein gutes Urteil über Menschen. — “She has good judgment about people.”

The expression ein Urteil fällen means “to pass or deliver a judgment,” especially in a legal context.

Grammar & Word origin

Gender: neuter
Article: das Urteil
Plural: die Urteile
Genitive singular: des Urteils

The related verb is urteilen "", meaning “to judge” or “to assess.” The noun comes from Middle High German and Old High German forms related to making a decision or judgment. Although it looks like it contains Teil "" (“part”), modern German speakers should not interpret it simply as a regular combination of ur- and Teil.

Synonyms & antonyms

Legal meaning

der Richterspruch "" — a judge’s formal ruling; more specifically associated with the judge than Urteil.
die Entscheidung "" — a decision in general; it is broader and does not necessarily refer to a court case.
das Verdikt "" — a verdict; more formal and often used specifically for a court’s decision.

A possible legal opposite is:

der Freispruch "" — an acquittal, but this is only the opposite of a guilty verdict, not a general antonym of Urteil.

Meaning “opinion” or “assessment”

die Bewertung "" — an evaluation or rating; often more systematic or explicit.
die Einschätzung "" — an assessment or estimate, often based on limited information.
die Meinung "" — an opinion; usually more subjective and less carefully considered than Urteil.

There is no single exact antonym in this meaning. Depending on the context, Vorurteil "" (“prejudice”) can be contrasted with a well-founded Urteil, although it is not a strict antonym.