How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 German words on “Law, justice and administration”. The full topic holds 172 in the KoKo app: 68 at the easy level, 61 at the medium level and 43 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this German vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

German vocabulary: law and justice

The law, the court, the lawyer, forms and official papers: legal and administrative vocabulary in German.

Here are 100 German words on “Law, justice and administration”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

German	English
Berufung	appealNoun, the challenge lodged with a higher court
Haftbefehl	arrest warrant
Geburtsurkunde	birth certificate
gemeinnützige Arbeit	community service
Anzeige	complaint
Verfassung	constitution
Vertrag	contract
Urheberrecht	copyright
Berufungsgericht	court of appeal
Polizeigewahrsam	custody
Frist	deadline
Dekret	decree
Verteidigung	defence
Angeklagter	defendant
Dokument	document
Personalausweis	identity card
Ermittlung	investigation
Urteil	judgment
Geschworene	jury
Recht	law
Erlass	local order
Mord	murder
Polizei	police
Gefängnis	prison
Verfahren	procedure
Ablehnung	refusal
Verordnung	regulation
Regel	rule
Gesetzesartikel	section of law
Strafe	sentence
Unterschrift	signature
Sozialversicherungsnummer	social security number
Gesetz	statute
Steuer	tax
Diebstahl	theft
verklagen	to sue
Bürgermeisteramt	town hall
illegaler Handel	trafficking
Gerichtsverfahren	trial
Zeuge	witnessNoun, the person who saw or heard the facts

Level 2: medium 35 words

German	English
Änderungsantrag	amendment
Verhaftung	arrest
Körperverletzung	assault
Kaution	bail
Rechtsprechung	case law
Anklage	charge
Beamter	civil servant
Entschädigung	compensation
Verurteilung	conviction
Bestechung	corruption
Schadensersatz	damages
Familienstammbuch	family record book
Revision	final appeal
Geldstrafe	fine
Formular	form
Belästigung	harassment
Schaden	harm suffered
Gerichtsverhandlung	hearing
unschuldig	innocent
Voruntersuchung	judicial investigation
Mediation	mediation
Reisepass	passport
Präfektur	prefecture
eingetragene Marke	registered trademark
Schwindel	scam
Pfändung	seizure
Sozialleistung	social benefit
gesetzliche Frist	statutory deadline
Verdächtiger	suspect
Bewährung	suspended sentence
Zeugenaussage	testimony
anklagen	to accuse
einreichen	to file
unterzeichnen	to sign
Urteilsspruch	verdict

Level 3: hard 25 words

German	English
Freispruch	acquittal
Einbruch	burglary
nichtöffentliche Sitzung	closed session
Schlussplädoyer	closing argument
Geständnis	confession
Schalter	counter
Cyberkriminalität	cybercrime
Beratung	deliberation
Auslieferung	extradition
Pauschalstrafe	fixed penalty
Widerspruch	informal appeal
Prozesskostenhilfe	legal aid
Rundfunkbeitrag	licence fee
mildernder Umstand	mitigating circumstance
außergerichtlich	out of court
bedingte Entlassung	parole
Vollmacht	power of attorney
Anklageplädoyer	prosecution speech
Vernehmung	questioning
Aufhebung	repeal
Hausdurchsuchung	search of premises
Nachweis	supporting document
beglaubigen	to certify
zustellen	to notify
legalisieren	to regularise

Mini quiz

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Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 German words on “Law, justice and administration”. The full topic holds 172 in the KoKo app: 68 at the easy level, 61 at the medium level and 43 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this German vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn German vocabulary on iPhone.