An acceleration sensor has a substrate, a seismic mass and a detection unit. The seismic mass is configured to be deflected based on an external acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor, the deflection being in the form of a deflection motion with respect to the substrate along a deflection direction. The detection unit is configured to be deflected for the detection of a deflection of the seismic mass, the detection being in the form of a detection motion with respect to the substrate along a detection direction. The detection unit is connected to the seismic mass in such a way that the amplitude of the deflection motion along the deflection direction is greater than the amplitude of the detection motion along the detection direction.