01
das Todesopfer
fatality
A person who has died in an accident, disaster, crime, or war.
example
Der schwere Verkehrsunfall forderte drei Todesopfer.
The serious traffic accident resulted in three fatalities.
das Todesopfer
fatality
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'der Tod' (death), the linking '-es', and 'das Opfer' (victim). So it literally means a person who has become a 'victim of death'.
EXAMPLE
Die Bergsteiger wurden zu Todesopfern eines plötzlichen Wetterumschwungs.
The mountain climbers became fatalities of a sudden change in the weather.
Typical collocations
'Todesopfer' (fatality) is very often used with the verb 'fordern' (to claim). A disaster or an accident 'claims' a certain number of fatalities. Other typical verbs are 'beklagen' (to mourn/report) or 'geben' (to be/have).
EXAMPLE
Das Erdbeben hat leider Hunderte von Todesopfern gefordert.
Unfortunately, the earthquake claimed hundreds of lives.
Register and style
'Todesopfer' (fatality) is a formal word used mainly in the news, in newspaper articles, and in official reports about accidents, wars, or disasters.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei hat die genaue Zahl der Todesopfer noch nicht bestätigt.
The police have not yet confirmed the exact number of fatalities.
Compare with
Todesopfer vs Opfer
victim / sacrifice
'das Opfer' and 'das Todesopfer' both refer to people affected by a terrible event. The important difference is this: a victim may have been injured, harmed, or killed. A fatality has always died. That is why 'Todesopfer' is more specific when you want to say explicitly that someone lost their life in an accident, war, crime, or disaster.
Todesopfer
Nach dem schweren Sturm meldeten die Behörden zwei Todesopfer.
After the severe storm, the authorities reported two fatalities.
Opfer
Das Opfer des Betrugs verlor viel Geld, wurde aber nicht verletzt.
The victim of the fraud lost a lot of money but was not injured.
In real life
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