adjective
to blame, at fault
B1
schuld is an adjective meaning 'to blame' or 'at fault' (not the noun Schuld). It is typically used predicatively: 'Er ist schuld.' Not gradable; comparative forms are uncommon. Common patterns: 'schuldig an + D' (guilty of something) and 'jemandem etwas schuldig sein' (to owe someone something or be indebted).
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Du bist schuld!
You're to blame!
Der Lehrer sagte, dass der Schüler schuld gewesen war, weil er die Regeln verletzt hatte.
The teacher said that the student had been at fault because he had broken the rules.
Ich bin schuld, dass wir zu spät sind.
It's my fault that we're late.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture someone pointing a finger and saying 'You did it' with the label 'schuld' above them.
Think 'should' — when you 'should' have done something, you might be to blame.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
The adjective 'schuld' is typically used predicatively (with forms of 'sein') rather than attributively with endings.