to stab to death
Loading your saved state.
to stab to death
To kill someone with one or more thrusts from a sharp weapon, such as a knife or dagger.
Der Täter hat sein Opfer im Streit mit einem Küchenmesser erstochen.
During the argument, the perpetrator stabbed his victim to death with a kitchen knife.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'er-' and the verb 'stechen' (to stab). The prefix 'er-' here indicates a final, often fatal result of the action. 'Erstechen' therefore means to kill someone by stabbing.
Der Angreifer versuchte, ihn zu erstechen.
The attacker tried to stab him to death.
The verb is transitive and needs an accusative object (the victim). The weapon used is indicated with the preposition 'mit' + dative.
Laut Polizeibericht wurde der Mann mit einem Dolch erstochen.
According to the police report, the man was stabbed to death with a dagger.
'Erstechen' (to stab to death) is a very direct and strong word. It is mainly used in news reports, crime reports, or historical narratives about acts of violence.
In der Zeitung stand, dass ein Mann auf offener Straße erstochen wurde.
The newspaper said that a man was stabbed to death in the street.
to kill
'töten' and 'erstechen' both mean that a person or an animal dies because someone else causes it. 'töten' is the general word and does not yet say how it happens. 'erstechen' is much more specific: it means to kill someone by stabbing them with a knife or a similar sharp weapon. That is why 'erstechen' only fits when this kind of act is important. 'töten' can be used in many more situations.
In dem Krimi wurde der Täter mit einem Messer erstochen.
In the crime novel, the perpetrator was stabbed to death with a knife.
Der Unfall tötete mehrere Tiere auf der Straße.
The accident killed several animals on the road.