expropriation
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expropriation
The legal act by which the state takes property from a person or company, especially land, in exchange for compensation. This usually happens for purposes that serve the public good.
Die Enteignung der Anwohner war für den Bau der neuen Bahnstrecke unumgänglich.
The expropriation of the residents was unavoidable for the construction of the new railway line.
The noun 'Enteignung' (expropriation) comes from the verb 'enteignen' (to expropriate). The prefix 'ent-' here means 'to take away,' and 'eigen' refers to property or ownership. So 'enteignen' means to take someone's property away.
Der Staat kann Bürger unter bestimmten Umständen enteignen.
The state can expropriate citizens under certain circumstances.
In connection with 'Enteignung' (expropriation), you often hear the phrase 'gegen eine Entschädigung' (in exchange for compensation), since the taking of property must be legally compensated. Common verbs are 'drohen' (to threaten / to be imminent), 'fordern' (to demand), or 'durchführen' (to carry out).
Den Grundstücksbesitzern droht die Enteignung für den Autobahnbau.
The property owners face expropriation for the construction of the highway.
This is a technical term from the fields of law and politics. It is mainly used in formal contexts such as laws, news reports, or political debates.
Im Parlament wird über das neue Gesetz zur Enteignung von Immobilien diskutiert.
Parliament is discussing the new law on the expropriation of real estate.
nationalization
In an Enteignung, the state legally takes property from a person or company, usually for the public good and in exchange for compensation. Verstaatlichung, by contrast, specifically refers to transferring private property into state ownership. In the case of private companies, the two processes can coincide, but they emphasize different aspects.
Die Enteignung entzog den bisherigen Eigentümern das Unternehmen gegen eine Entschädigung.
The expropriation took the company away from its former owners in exchange for compensation.
Durch die Verstaatlichung ging das private Unternehmen in das Eigentum des Staates über.
Through nationalization, the private company became state-owned.
