die Strafe
punishment / penalty
A negative consequence that someone receives for an offense, a crime, or wrong behavior.
EXAMPLE
Für zu schnelles Fahren gibt es eine hohe Strafe.
There is a high penalty for driving too fast.
die Strafe
punishment / penalty
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Meanings
die Strafe
real punishment
Colloquially, a very unpleasant or exhausting task or situation.
EXAMPLE
Bei der Hitze den ganzen Tag zu arbeiten, ist eine echte Strafe.
Working all day in this heat is real punishment.
zur Strafe
as punishment
As a punishment for something. Describes the reason for a negative consequence.
EXAMPLE
Zur Strafe für das Zuspätkommen musste er nachsitzen.
As punishment for being late, he had to stay after school.
Usage tips
Word family
'Die Strafe' (the punishment/penalty) is the noun related to the verb 'strafen' (to punish). It describes the result of the action: when someone punishes, another person receives a punishment.
EXAMPLE
Wer die Regeln bricht, wird bestraft.
Anyone who breaks the rules will be punished.
Important prepositions
The prepositions 'für' (for) and 'zu' (to) are often used with 'Strafe' (punishment/penalty). 'Für' gives the reason for the punishment, while 'zu' describes the type of punishment someone is sentenced to.
EXAMPLE
Er bekam eine Strafe für das Falschparken.
He received a penalty for illegal parking.
Typical collocations
In legal and everyday contexts, there are fixed combinations. You can 'bekommen' (get), 'erhalten' (receive), or 'zahlen' (pay) a 'Strafe' (punishment/penalty). You can 'verbüßen' (serve) a prison sentence.
EXAMPLE
Er muss eine hohe Geldstrafe zahlen.
He has to pay a large fine.
Colloquial use
In colloquial speech, 'Strafe' (punishment) is often used exaggeratedly for a very unpleasant but necessary activity. Here it is not meant literally as punishment.
EXAMPLE
Diese ganze Bürokratie ist eine echte Strafe.
All this bureaucracy is real punishment.
Fixed expression
The expression 'zur Strafe' (as punishment) is a fixed phrase. It introduces the part of the sentence that describes the consequence of an action.
EXAMPLE
Zur Strafe musste ich mein Zimmer aufräumen.
As punishment, I had to clean up my room.
Compare with
Strafe vs Sanktion
sanction
A Strafe is typically the specific negative consequence imposed on a person after an offense. A Sanktion is a formal measure for enforcing rules and can also affect states, institutions, or groups. It therefore does not have to be a personal punishment.
Strafe
Der Verein gab dem Spieler für den Regelverstoß eine Strafe.
The club gave the player a penalty for breaking the rules.
Sanktion
Der Verband verhängte wegen des Regelverstoßes eine Sanktion gegen die gesamte Mannschaft.
The association imposed a sanction on the entire team for breaking the rules.
In real life
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