to murder
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to murder
To intentionally and unlawfully kill someone, often for base motives such as hatred or greed. This is a serious crime.
Er wurde des Verbrechens angeklagt, weil er aus Habgier gemordet haben soll.
He was charged with the crime because he is said to have murdered out of greed.
The verb 'morden' (to murder) belongs to a word family with the noun 'der Mord' (murder, the act) and the person 'der Mörder' or 'die Mörderin' (murderer). All of these words describe the most serious crime of killing a human being.
Der Verdächtige wurde wegen Mordes angeklagt.
The suspect was charged with murder.
In its legal meaning, the motive for the act is often expressed with the preposition 'aus' and a noun in the dative. Typical motives are hatred, greed, or jealousy.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft argumentierte, er habe aus reiner Habgier gemordet.
The prosecution argued that he had murdered out of pure greed.
The colloquial meaning exists only in the fixed expression 'für etwas morden können' (to be able to kill for something). It expresses an extreme desire and is always used with the modal verb 'können' (can), often in the subjunctive.
Ich habe seit gestern nichts gegessen, ich könnte für eine Pizza morden!
I haven't eaten anything since yesterday; I could kill for a pizza!
The expression 'für etwas morden' (to kill for something) is strongly exaggerated and belongs exclusively to informal colloquial language. In formal or serious contexts, it would be completely inappropriate.
Boah, ist das heiß! Ich würde für ein Eis morden.
Wow, it's hot! I would kill for an ice cream.
to kill
'töten' and 'morden' both mean that a person dies because someone intentionally attacks them. But 'töten' is more general: it can be used for intentional killing, accidental killing, in war, or also with animals. 'morden' is narrower and much stronger. It means a serious crime in which someone intentionally and unlawfully kills a person. Learners may confuse the words because every murder is also a killing. But not every killing is a murder. When the crime is the focus, 'morden' is more precise.
Die Polizei sucht den Mann, weil er aus Hass gemordet haben soll.
The police are looking for the man because he is said to have murdered out of hatred.
Ein schneller Autofahrer kann bei einem Unfall einen Menschen töten.
A speeding driver can kill someone in an accident.