noun
guilt, debt
B1
Schuld (die) has two main meanings: 'guilt' (moral fault, usually singular) and 'debt' (financial obligation, typically used in plural: Schulden). Feminine noun; plural Schulden (irregular meaning shift). Genitive singular der Schuld; dative plural den Schulden. Context decides whether it denotes blame or monetary liability.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Das Gericht erkannte die Schuld nicht an, obwohl mehrere Zeugen belastende Aussagen gemacht hatten.
The court did not acknowledge the guilt, although several witnesses had made incriminating statements.
Die Schuld an dem Unfall war nicht eindeutig feststellbar.
It wasn't clear who was to blame for the accident.
Nach dem Studium hatte er viele Schulden.
After university he had a lot of debt.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Imagine a heavy scale tipping down with a label 'Schuld' on one side.
Sounds like 'should' + 'd' — think of a should that went wrong (guilt).
Die Schuld — think 'die' as 'the lady' to remember it's feminine (die).
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Schuld can mean abstract 'guilt' (usually uncountable) or 'debt' (often plural: Schulden). Context determines meaning.