serial killer
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serial killer
A person who kills several people over a longer period of time, with pauses between the individual murders. The acts often follow a particular pattern.
Die Kriminalpolizei bildete eine Sonderkommission, um den gesuchten Serienmörder zu fassen.
The criminal police formed a special task force to catch the wanted serial killer.
The word is a compound of 'die Serie' (series) and 'der Mörder' (murderer/killer). So it literally describes a killer whose crimes form a series.
Der Film handelt von der Jagd auf einen cleveren Serienmörder.
The film is about the hunt for a clever serial killer.
In connection with 'Serienmörder' (serial killer), verbs are often used that describe police investigative work. Typical phrases are 'einen Serienmörder jagen' (to hunt a serial killer), 'fassen' (to catch), 'überführen' (to convict/prove guilty), or 'identifizieren' (to identify).
Die Polizei hofft, den Serienmörder bald zu fassen.
The police hope to catch the serial killer soon.
This word is used almost exclusively in the context of crime. You find it in the news, police reports, crime novels, and thrillers.
In der Zeitung stand ein langer Artikel über einen ungelösten Fall mit einem Serienmörder.
There was a long article in the newspaper about an unsolved case involving a serial killer.
murderer
'der Mörder' and 'der Serienmörder' both refer to a person who has intentionally killed another human being. 'der Mörder' is the more general term. It can refer to a single act or to several acts. 'der Serienmörder' is more specific: he has killed several people over a longer period of time, usually with pauses between the acts. Learners may confuse the words because every serial killer is also a murderer. But not every murderer is a serial killer. If only one killing is meant, or if the number is not important, you say 'Mörder'.
In der Dokumentation geht es um einen Serienmörder, der jahrelang nicht gefasst wurde.
The documentary is about a serial killer who was not caught for years.
Die Polizei sucht den Mörder nach der Tat in der Innenstadt.
The police are looking for the murderer after the crime in the city center.