festnehmen
arrest
verb FEST-nay-men Less Common
Origin: from fest ('firm') and nehmen ('to take')
Usage Note
festnehmen is the standard verb for a police arrest and is separable: the prefix splits off in main clauses, as in Die Polizei nimmt ihn fest. The related noun is Festnahme. Distinguish it from verhaften, a near-synonym.
Examples
"Die Polizei nahm den Dieb fest."
Natural Translation
The police arrested the thief.
Literal Translation
The police took the thief fast.
Related Words
- Abmahnschreiben formal warning letter (demanding cessation of unlawful conduct)
- Abschiebung deportation
- Akteneinsicht access to files
- Amtsgericht local court
- Amtspflicht official duty; duty of care owed by a public official
- Anfechtungsklage action for annulment
- Angeklagte defendant
- Anhörung hearing; right to be heard (before a decision is made)
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