prison sentence
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prison sentence
A punishment imposed by a court in which a convicted person must go to prison for a certain period of time.
Wegen Betrugs erhielt er eine Haftstrafe von zwei Jahren ohne Bewährung.
For fraud, he received a prison sentence of two years without probation.
The word is made up of 'die Haft' (detention, custody) and 'die Strafe' (punishment). The 's' in the middle is a linking s, which connects the two words. Literally, it is therefore a 'Haft-Strafe' (detention punishment).
Eine Haftstrafe ist die schwerste Form der Bestrafung in vielen Rechtssystemen.
A prison sentence is the most severe form of punishment in many legal systems.
'Haftstrafe' (prison sentence) is the official legal term. It is used especially in news reports, laws, and court contexts.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft forderte eine mehrjährige Haftstrafe.
The public prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of several years.
Common verbs in connection with 'Haftstrafe' (prison sentence) are 'zu einer Haftstrafe verurteilt werden' (to be sentenced to a prison sentence), 'eine Haftstrafe bekommen' (to receive a prison sentence), or 'eine Haftstrafe verbüßen' (to serve a prison sentence, meaning to spend the time in prison).
Der Angeklagte wurde zu einer Haftstrafe von drei Jahren verurteilt.
The defendant was sentenced to a prison sentence of three years.
In a legal context, it is often specified whether a prison sentence is 'zur Bewährung ausgesetzt' (suspended on probation: you do not have to go to prison if you follow certain rules) or 'ohne Bewährung' (without probation: you must serve the sentence in prison).
Er bekam eine zweijährige Haftstrafe auf Bewährung.
He received a two-year suspended prison sentence.
prison
'das Gefängnis' and 'die Haftstrafe' both belong to the topic of punishment and being locked up. 'Gefängnis' usually refers to the place where someone is locked up. In everyday language, it can also stand for the punishment. 'Haftstrafe', however, clearly means the punishment set by a court: someone has to go to prison for a certain period of time. The confusion arises because people often say 'ins Gefängnis müssen' (to have to go to prison) when they actually mean the sentence. If you are talking about the building, use 'Gefängnis'. If you are talking about the court judgment, 'Haftstrafe' is more precise.
Der Richter wird morgen die Haftstrafe bekannt geben.
The judge will announce the prison sentence tomorrow.
Wir besuchen heute ein ehemaliges Gefängnis, das jetzt ein Museum ist.
Today we are visiting a former prison that is now a museum.