ermitteln
To investigate
Use it when you're playing detective or solving a serious problem at work.
In 15 Seconds
- To investigate or determine facts systematically.
- Commonly used in police work and professional research.
- Implies a serious search for a specific truth.
Meaning
This word describes the process of digging for facts or finding out the truth. It is most often used when the police are solving a crime, but you can also use it when you are doing serious research or trying to solve a tricky problem at work.
Key Examples
3 of 7Watching the news
Die Polizei ermittelt wegen des Diebstahls.
The police are investigating the theft.
In a business meeting
Wir müssen die Ursache für den Fehler ermitteln.
We need to determine the cause of the error.
Texting a friend about office drama
Ich habe endlich ermittelt, wer meinen Keks gegessen hat!
I finally investigated and found out who ate my cookie!
Cultural Background
The word is a staple of German 'Krimi' (crime fiction) culture. Since the 1970s, the show 'Tatort' has made the act of 'ermitteln' a national Sunday night ritual. It reflects the German societal value of 'Recht und Ordnung' (law and order) and the systematic pursuit of truth.
The 'Detective' Hack
If you want to sound like a Sherlock Holmes fan, use `ermitteln` instead of `suchen`. It makes your search for the TV remote sound epic.
Don't overdo it
Using `ermitteln` for simple things like 'finding a bathroom' will make you sound like a robot or a very strange police officer.
In 15 Seconds
- To investigate or determine facts systematically.
- Commonly used in police work and professional research.
- Implies a serious search for a specific truth.
What It Means
Ermitteln is a strong, active verb. It means to investigate or determine something through systematic effort. Think of it like being a detective. It is more formal than just 'looking for' something. You are gathering clues. You are connecting the dots. It implies there is a mystery to solve.
How To Use It
You use it when you are in 'problem-solving mode.' In a sentence, the police ermitteln. A scientist might ermitteln a value. At the office, you might ermitteln the cause of a bug. It often takes the preposition wegen (because of/on account of) when talking about crimes. For example: 'The police are investigating because of theft.' It feels official and deliberate.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to sound professional. Use it when discussing news or crime dramas. Use it at work when you are doing a deep dive into data. If you found out who ate your yogurt in the office fridge, you can jokingly say you had to ermitteln. It adds a layer of seriousness to your actions.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for casual searching. If you lost your keys, you don't ermitteln. You just suchen (search). Don't use it for 'finding' a restaurant. That is too heavy for a Friday night. It sounds weird if the stakes are too low. Avoid it in very emotional, intimate conversations. It is a head-verb, not a heart-verb.
Cultural Background
Germany loves its crime shows, especially 'Tatort.' You will hear ermitteln in almost every episode. Germans value precision and facts. This word reflects that cultural need for a clear result. It comes from the word Mittel (means/way). So, you are literally 'finding the way' to the truth.
Common Variations
The noun form is die Ermittlung. You will see this in news headlines constantly. There is also der Ermittler for a male investigator. For a female, it is die Ermittlerin. If you are just starting an investigation, you might say Ermittlungen aufnehmen. It sounds like you are officially opening a case file.
Usage Notes
The verb is neutral to formal. It is perfectly safe for work and news contexts but sounds slightly dramatic or ironic in purely personal, casual settings.
The 'Detective' Hack
If you want to sound like a Sherlock Holmes fan, use `ermitteln` instead of `suchen`. It makes your search for the TV remote sound epic.
Don't overdo it
Using `ermitteln` for simple things like 'finding a bathroom' will make you sound like a robot or a very strange police officer.
Tatort Sunday
If you are in Germany on a Sunday at 8:15 PM, everyone is watching someone `ermitteln` on TV. It's the perfect time to practice the word!
Examples
7Die Polizei ermittelt wegen des Diebstahls.
The police are investigating the theft.
This is the most standard use of the word.
Wir müssen die Ursache für den Fehler ermitteln.
We need to determine the cause of the error.
Shows you are taking a technical problem seriously.
Ich habe endlich ermittelt, wer meinen Keks gegessen hat!
I finally investigated and found out who ate my cookie!
Using a formal word for a small thing is funny.
Die Forscher ermitteln die genauen Werte.
The researchers are determining the exact values.
Used for data and scientific discovery.
Niemand weiß es, aber wir ermitteln noch.
Nobody knows, but we are still investigating.
Keeps the suspense alive.
Gegen den Manager wird wegen Betrugs ermittelt.
The manager is being investigated for fraud.
Passive voice is common in legal reporting.
Ich versuche nur, die Wahrheit zu ermitteln.
I am just trying to find out the truth.
Used when you want to sound objective and fair.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the verb for a professional setting.
Die Detektive ___ in diesem schwierigen Fall.
Detectives 'investigate' (ermitteln) cases; 'suchen' is too simple and 'finden' means they already found the answer.
Complete the sentence regarding a technical issue.
Wir müssen den Stromverbrauch ___.
To 'determine' or 'calculate' a value like electricity consumption, 'ermitteln' is the professional choice.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Investigating'
Looking for lost keys
suchen
Checking facts/solving problems
ermitteln
Official police inquiry
Ermittlungen einleiten
Where to use Ermitteln
Crime Scene
Police work
Laboratory
Scientific data
Office
Finding a bug
News
Journalism
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, while it is the main word for police work, you can use it in science or business to mean 'determining' data or causes. For example: Die Firma ermittelt den Bedarf (The company determines the need).
Suchen is general searching, like looking for your socks. Ermitteln is a structured, official investigation into a specific fact or crime.
Yes, if you did it through effort. You could say Ich habe den Namen ermittelt if you had to do some digging to find it.
No, ermitteln is not separable. The 'er-' stays attached to the verb at all times, like in ich ermittle.
You use the phrase Es wird ermittelt. For example: Gegen ihn wird ermittelt (He is under investigation).
Sometimes! In math or engineering, it can mean to calculate or determine a value, like den Durchschnitt ermitteln (to determine the average).
Yes, it is very common in professional emails when discussing problem-solving or data analysis.
The simple past is ermittelte and the present perfect is hat ermittelt. Example: Die Polizei hat den Täter ermittelt (The police identified/found the culprit).
Yes, but recherchieren is more common for journalists. Ermitteln is more about finding a specific answer or culprit.
Not exactly, but people might say rumbohren (to drill around) if someone is asking too many annoying questions.
Related Phrases
untersuchen
feststellen
nachforschen
aufklären
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