to pardon
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to pardon
To fully or partially waive the punishment of a convicted person. This is an act of clemency, usually issued by a head of state.
Der Präsident hat den Gefangenen nach zwanzig Jahren Haft begnadigt.
The president pardoned the prisoner after twenty years in prison.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'be-' and the noun 'die Gnade' (mercy). Literally, it means to show someone mercy. As a verb with the prefix 'be-', it is inseparable.
Er hoffte auf die Gnade des Königs.
He hoped for the king's mercy.
The person whose punishment is waived is always in the accusative. The structure is: someone (nominative) pardons someone (accusative).
Die Königin begnadigte den zum Tode Verurteilten.
The queen pardoned the person sentenced to death.
This word is used almost exclusively in legal or political contexts. It describes an official act by a head of state (e.g., president, king) and is not an everyday word.
Nur der Gouverneur hat die Macht, den Häftling zu begnadigen.
Only the governor has the power to pardon the inmate.
to forgive
Verzeihen is a personal response: you stop holding a mistake or wrongdoing against someone. Begnadigen, on the other hand, is a formal act of clemency toward a convicted person, in which all or part of the punishment is waived.
Nach dem Gnadengesuch konnte das Staatsoberhaupt den verurteilten Mann begnadigen.
After receiving the petition for clemency, the head of state was able to pardon the convicted man.
Nach dem Geständnis konnte die Schwester ihm seine Tat verzeihen.
After his confession, his sister was able to forgive him for what he had done.
