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noun

der Verrat, -e

betrayal

Wenn jemand absichtlich das Vertrauen von einer Person oder Gruppe bricht und geheime oder wichtige Dinge an andere weitergibt.

Definition & meaning

Verrat means betrayal, treachery, or treason. It describes the act of breaking someone’s trust, loyalty, or confidence, often by revealing secret information or supporting an enemy.

It can be used in several related ways:

  1. Betrayal of a person or trust
    Someone deliberately acts disloyally toward another person or group.

    • Der Verrat an seinem Freund war schockierend. — The betrayal of his friend was shocking.

  2. Treason against a country or organization
    Someone helps an enemy or acts against their own country.

    • Er wurde wegen Verrats angeklagt. — He was charged with treason.

  3. Revealing a secret
    The word can also refer to the disclosure of confidential information.

    • Der Verrat von Staatsgeheimnissen ist eine schwere Straftat. — The disclosure of state secrets is a serious crime.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Gender: masculine
  • Article: der
  • Plural: usually not used; in special contexts, die Verrate can occur
  • Genitive: des Verrats
  • Accusative: den Verrat

The related verb is verraten , meaning “to betray” or “to reveal.” The noun is formed from this verb with the suffix -at. Although it contains the element Rat , meaning “advice” or “council,” modern German speakers do not interpret Verrat as a combination of ver- and Rat.

Related words include der Verräter — “the traitor” — and die Verräterin — “the female traitor.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • der Betrug — fraud or deception; more general than Verrat and not necessarily connected with loyalty.
  • die Treulosigkeit — disloyalty or faithlessness; emphasizes a lack of loyalty.
  • die Untreue — unfaithfulness or disloyalty; commonly used in relationships or concerning loyalty to a person or group.
  • die Heimtücke — treacherousness or malicious deceit; emphasizes the secretly harmful nature of an action.
  • der Landesverrat — high treason; specifically betrayal of one’s country.

Antonyms

  • die Treue — loyalty or faithfulness.
  • die Loyalität — loyalty, especially toward a person, group, or institution.
  • die Vertrauenswürdigkeit — trustworthiness; the quality of being worthy of trust.
  • die Verschwiegenheit — discretion or confidentiality; specifically the opposite of revealing secrets.

Common phrases & collocations

  • Verrat begehen — to commit betrayal or treason
  • jemanden verraten — to betray someone
  • Vertrauensbruch — breach of trust
  • Verrat an jemandem — betrayal of someone
  • Staatsverrat — treason against the state
  • Landesverrat — high treason
  • ein Akt des Verrats — an act of betrayal
  • Verrat und Täuschung — betrayal and deception

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Examples

Der Verrat an seinem Freund schmerzt ihn sehr.noun

The betrayal of his friend pains him greatly.

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