verb
to deceive, to cheat
B1
Betrügen: means 'to deceive' or 'to cheat'. Non-reflexive transitive verb using auxiliary haben. Strong irregular: present vowel e->ü (ich betrüge, du betrügst), preterite betrog, perfect participle betrogen. Common in contexts of fraud, infidelity or cheating at games. Imperative: Betrüg! / Betrügen Sie!
Examples
Er hat die Kunden absichtlich betrogen.
He deliberately deceived the customers.
Niemand kann nachprüfen, ob man bezahlt oder betrügt.
No one can check whether someone pays or cheats.
Ich bin betrogen worden.
I have been deceived.
Details
Mnemonics
a pair of hands hiding cards behind the back to visualize cheating or deception
sounds like 'bet rue gin' — imagine regretting ('rue') after a deceit at a bet
Notes
Strong irregular verb with umlaut in the present (betrüge, betrügst, betrügt). Past tense 'betrog', past participle 'betrogen'. Often used in legal and personal contexts.