vernehmen

to interrogate, to question (officially)

verb fer-NAY-men Rare

Origin: from Middle High German 'vernemen' (to take in, to hear)

Also means

to hear, to perceive

Usage Note

vernehmen in the legal and police sense means to formally question a witness or suspect: 'Der Zeuge wurde vernommen' (The witness was questioned). In elevated or literary usage it also means to hear or perceive something: 'Man vernahm Schritte' (Footsteps were heard).

Examples

"Die Polizei vernahm mehrere Zeugen des Vorfalls."

Natural Translation

The police questioned several witnesses to the incident.

Literal Translation

The police questioned several witnesses of-the incident.

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