beating / club
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beating
Blows inflicted on someone as punishment or in a fight. The word is used almost exclusively in the plural.
Die beiden Jungen haben sich auf dem Schulhof geprügelt und dafür Ärger bekommen.
The two boys got into a fight in the schoolyard and got in trouble for it.
The noun 'Prügel' (beating) is closely related to the verb 'prügeln' (to hit/beat) and the reflexive form 'sich prügeln' (to fight each other). This connection helps you understand the meaning.
Die Kinder haben sich auf dem Spielplatz geprügelt.
The children got into a fight on the playground.
You can recognize the meaning from the number: If the word is in the plural ('Prügel'), it almost always means blows or a beating. If it is in the singular with an article ('ein Prügel'), it means a stick.
Er hat für sein schlechtes Verhalten Prügel bekommen.
He got a beating for his bad behavior.
In the meaning 'Schläge' (blows), 'Prügel' is often combined with the verbs 'bekommen' (to get), 'kriegen' (to get), or 'austeilen' (to hand out/deal out). The phrase 'Prügel beziehen' is a somewhat more formal variant of 'Prügel bekommen' (to get a beating).
Wer sich nicht an die Regeln hält, bekommt Prügel.
Anyone who doesn't follow the rules gets a beating.
Using 'Prügel' to mean a stick is rare today and often sounds outdated. You are more likely to find it in older texts or in literature.
Der alte Mann drohte dem Hund mit einem Prügel.
The old man threatened the dog with a club.
blow / stroke
'der Schlag' and 'Prügel' both have to do with physical violence. 'Ein Schlag' is a single blow or strike, for example with the hand. 'Prügel' is almost always used in the plural and means several blows, often as punishment or in a fight. That is why you cannot simply call every 'Schlag' 'Prügel'. 'Prügel' sounds stronger and more negative because it usually refers to a whole violent situation. For a single moment, 'Schlag' is more precise.
Nach dem Streit drohte der ältere Junge dem anderen mit Prügeln.
After the argument, the older boy threatened the other one with a beating.
Ein Schlag auf den Tisch machte alle im Raum still.
A blow on the table made everyone in the room go quiet.