Verb

betrügen

Translation

to deceive, to cheat, to defraud, to be unfaithful

Er hat seine Geschäftspartner betrogen.

He deceived his business partners.

Sie betrog ihn um sein ganzes Geld.

She cheated him out of all his money.

Er hat seine Frau betrogen.

He cheated on his wife.

((sb.)) to deceive/cheat (sb.) He cheated everyone.

((j-n)) ((um et4)) to cheat (sb.) out of (sth.) She cheated him out of his inheritance.

Synonyms: täuschen (to deceive), hintergehen (to betray); Antonyms: ehrlich sein (to be honest)

Comes from the prefix 'be-' (acting upon something) and 'trügen' (to deceive), which is related to an old word for 'trick'.

Think of the word 'betray'. The sound is somewhat similar and the meaning of betraying someone's trust is key to 'betrügen'.