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.
mass murderer
Both a Serienmörder and a Massenmörder kill several people. However, a Serienmörder commits separate acts with pauses between them over a longer period of time. A Massenmörder kills many people in a single act or within a short period of time.
Der Serienmörder tötete seine Opfer in getrennten Taten über mehrere Jahre.
The serial killer killed his victims in separate acts over several years.
Der Massenmörder tötete seine Opfer bei einer einzigen Tat.
The mass murderer killed his victims in a single act.
