01
der Haftbefehl
arrest warrant
A judicial order to arrest a person and place them in pretrial detention.
example
Gegen den Verdächtigen wurde ein Haftbefehl erlassen.
An arrest warrant was issued for the suspect.
der Haftbefehl
arrest warrant
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Meanings
Usage tips
Compound word
'Der Haftbefehl' (the arrest warrant) is a compound noun made up of 'die Haft' (detention, custody) and 'der Befehl' (order). So literally, it is an order to take someone into custody.
EXAMPLE
Ein Haftbefehl ist ein offizieller Befehl zur Verhaftung einer Person.
An arrest warrant is an official order for the arrest of a person.
Typical verbs
'Haftbefehl' is often combined with certain verbs from legal language. A judge can 'erlassen' (issue) an arrest warrant, and the police can 'vollstrecken' (execute) it.
EXAMPLE
Der Richter hat einen internationalen Haftbefehl erlassen.
The judge issued an international arrest warrant.
Preposition 'gegen'
To name the person to whom the arrest warrant applies, the preposition 'gegen' (+ accusative) is almost always used.
EXAMPLE
Es liegt ein Haftbefehl gegen den Hauptverdächtigen vor.
There is an arrest warrant for the main suspect.
Legal language
'Haftbefehl' (arrest warrant) is a technical term from the legal system. You find it mainly in official documents, police reports, and the news.
EXAMPLE
In der Pressemitteilung der Staatsanwaltschaft wurde der Haftbefehl bestätigt.
The arrest warrant was confirmed in the public prosecutor's press release.
Compare with
Haftbefehl vs Festnahme
arrest
'der Haftbefehl' and 'die Festnahme' both belong to the area of police work and criminal law. But they do not refer to the same thing. A 'Haftbefehl' is a decision or order from a court: a person is to be arrested and placed in custody. A 'Festnahme' is the act itself, the moment when the police take the person away. Learners may confuse the words because a 'Haftbefehl' often leads to a 'Festnahme'. Remember: the 'Haftbefehl' is the document or order; the 'Festnahme' is what happens afterward.
Haftbefehl
Gegen den Verdächtigen liegt seit gestern ein Haftbefehl vor.
There has been an arrest warrant for the suspect since yesterday.
Festnahme
Nach der Festnahme brachte die Polizei den Mann zur Wache.
After the arrest, the police took the man to the station.
In real life
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