01
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 Marschall
marshal
'der Marschall' and 'der Sheriff' can both have to do with police and security in the U.S. In this context, a Marschall is an officer of a federal agency, for example responsible for courts, prisoners, or wanted persons. A sheriff, by contrast, is the chief police officer in a county. Learners may confuse the words because both appear in films or news as American law enforcement officers. The important point is: the sheriff is more connected to local administration, while the Marschall is more connected to the federal level.
Sheriff
In dem kleinen County leitete der Sheriff die Suche nach dem Dieb.
In the small county, the sheriff led the search for the thief.
Marschall
Der Marschall brachte den Gefangenen sicher zum Gericht.
The marshal brought the prisoner safely to court.
In real life
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