der Sheriff
sheriff
The chief police officer of a county, especially in the USA.
EXAMPLE
Der Sheriff war für die Aufklärung des Falls in der Kleinstadt zuständig.
The sheriff was responsible for solving the case in the small town.
der Sheriff
sheriff
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Meanings
Usage tips
English origin
'Sheriff' is a word that was borrowed directly from English. It is used in German to refer to this specific role in the Anglo-American world.
EXAMPLE
In vielen Westernfilmen ist der Sheriff der Held der Geschichte.
In many Western films, the sheriff is the hero of the story.
Cultural context
The position of a sheriff does not exist in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. The term is known mainly from American films and books and refers to the legal system there.
EXAMPLE
Die Aufgaben eines Sheriffs in den USA sind nicht mit denen eines deutschen Polizisten identisch.
The duties of a sheriff in the USA are not identical to those of a German police officer.
Typical use
The title 'Sheriff' is often combined with the preposition 'von' (of/from) and a place name to make the area of responsibility clear.
EXAMPLE
Der Sheriff von Los Angeles County hat eine Pressekonferenz gegeben.
The sheriff of Los Angeles County gave a press conference.
Compare with
Sheriff vs Marshal
marshal
Sheriff and Marshal are high-ranking law enforcement officers in the United States, especially in stories about the Wild West. The Sheriff is the chief police officer of a county, whereas a Marshal is often a high-ranking official with federal powers. The jurisdiction determines which term is appropriate.
Sheriff
Der Sheriff des Countys untersuchte den Überfall auf die Bank.
The county sheriff investigated the bank robbery.
Marshal
Der Marshal mit bundesweiten Befugnissen verfolgte den gesuchten Verbrecher durch mehrere Bundesstaaten.
The marshal with federal powers pursued the wanted criminal through several states.
In real life
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