to expropriate
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to expropriate
To deprive someone of property (especially land) through a state or legal act, usually for public purposes and in exchange for compensation.
Für den Bau der neuen Autobahn mussten mehrere Landwirte enteignet werden.
Several farmers had to be expropriated for the construction of the new highway.
'Enteignen' (to expropriate) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ent-' here means 'to take away', and the stem 'eigen' refers to 'Eigentum' (property). So it literally means to take someone's property away.
Der Staat kann Bürger unter bestimmten Umständen enteignen.
The state can expropriate citizens under certain circumstances.
The person whose property is taken away is always in the accusative. You expropriate someone.
Die Regierung plant, die Besitzer der alten Fabrik zu enteignen.
The government plans to expropriate the owners of the old factory.
The verb is often used in the passive ('jemand wird enteignet' — someone is expropriated). The purpose is expressed with 'für' (for), and possible compensation with 'gegen' (in exchange for).
Die Familie wurde für den Bau des neuen Flughafens enteignet.
The family was expropriated for the construction of the new airport.
This word belongs to formal legal and administrative language. It is rarely used in everyday speech.
Im Grundgesetz ist die Möglichkeit der Enteignung geregelt.
The possibility of expropriation is regulated in the Basic Law.
to confiscate
Both words can refer to the state taking control of someone else's property. „Beschlagnahmen“ usually means taking something into custody, for example as evidence, without expressing permanent loss of ownership. „Enteignen“ means that the state takes someone's property away through a legal act.
Der Staat enteignete das Grundstück für den Bau der neuen Straße.
The state expropriated the property to build the new road.
Die Polizei beschlagnahmte den Laptop als mögliches Beweismittel.
The police confiscated the laptop as possible evidence.
