Learn German: Der Schiedsrichter pfeift das Foul absichtlich. - The referee intentionally calls the foul.

Der Schiedsrichter pfeift das Foul absichtlich.

The referee intentionally calls the foul.

Breakdown of Der Schiedsrichter pfeift das Foul absichtlich.

Questions & Answers about Der Schiedsrichter pfeift das Foul absichtlich.

Why does the sentence use pfeift here if the English translation is "calls"?

In German sports terminology, a referee does not "call" a foul, they "whistle" it (pfeifen). The literal translation is "The referee whistles the foul," which is the standard German way to express making a call on the field.

How would we expand this sentence to say he called the foul "in favor of" the home team?

You can use the genitive preposition zugunsten (in favor of / to the benefit of) from this lesson. The sentence would become: Der Schiedsrichter pfeift das Foul absichtlich zugunsten der Heimmannschaft.

If we wanted to say the call was "to the disadvantage of the player," how would we use zuungunsten?

You would use zuungunsten followed by the masculine genitive form of the player: ... absichtlich zuungunsten des Spielers. Interestingly, both zugunsten and zuungunsten can also be placed after the noun they modify (des Spielers zuungunsten), though placing them before the noun is much more common.

What is the literal meaning of Schiedsrichter?

It is a compound noun made of Schied (an old root related to entscheiden, meaning to decide or arbitrate) and Richter (judge). Therefore, a referee is literally a "decision judge."