murder / assassination
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murder / assassination
The intentional and unlawful killing of a person. The term emphasizes the planned and treacherous nature of the act.
Die Ermordung des Thronfolgers war der Auslöser für den Krieg.
The assassination of the heir to the throne was the trigger for the war.
The word consists of the verb 'morden' (to murder) with the prefix 'er-' and the ending '-ung'. The prefix 'er-' often emphasizes the result or completion of the act here, and '-ung' turns the verb into a noun.
Die Polizei untersucht die Ermordung des Geschäftsmannes.
The police are investigating the murder of the businessman.
To name the victim, the genitive is usually used in written language. In spoken language, the construction with 'von' + dative is also common.
Die Ermordung des Königs führte zu politischen Unruhen.
The assassination of the king led to political unrest.
Common expressions are 'die Ermordung aufklären' (to solve the murder), 'die Ermordung planen' (to plan the murder), or 'der Auftrag zur Ermordung' (the order to assassinate). The word often describes politically or historically significant acts.
Der Detektiv versuchte, die Ermordung aufzuklären.
The detective tried to solve the murder.
'Ermordung' (murder/assassination) is a formal term that is often used in news reports, historical texts, and legal contexts. It emphasizes the seriousness and often the planned nature of the act.
In dem Buch geht es um die Ermordung eines wichtigen Politikers im 19. Jahrhundert.
The book is about the assassination of an important politician in the 19th century.
murder
'der Mord' and 'die Ermordung' both refer to the intentional killing of a person. 'Mord' more often names the act as a crime or the case: 'Die Polizei untersucht einen Mord' (The police are investigating a murder). 'Ermordung' places more emphasis on the process or event, often with a focus on the victim or on history. For example, people speak of 'die Ermordung einer bekannten Person' (the murder / assassination of a well-known person). The words are easy to confuse because they are very close in meaning. In news and reports, 'Ermordung' often sounds somewhat more formal or more precise when the act itself is meant as an event.
Die Ermordung der Journalistin löste viele Proteste aus.
The murder of the journalist sparked many protests.
Der Mord an dem jungen Mann beschäftigt die Stadt seit Wochen.
The murder of the young man has occupied the city for weeks.