die Todesstrafe
death penalty
The legally prescribed killing of a person as punishment for a very serious crime.
EXAMPLE
In vielen Ländern wurde die Todesstrafe inzwischen abgeschafft.
In many countries, the death penalty has now been abolished.
die Todesstrafe
death penalty
die Todesstrafe, die Todesstrafen
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Todesstrafe, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Todesstrafen |
| genitive | der Todesstrafe |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Todesstrafe | die Todesstrafen |
| accusative | die Todesstrafe | die Todesstrafen |
| dative | der Todesstrafe | den Todesstrafen |
| genitive | der Todesstrafe | der Todesstrafen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound structure
This word is a clear compound made up of 'der Tod' (death) and 'die Strafe' (punishment/penalty). So it literally describes a punishment that leads to death.
EXAMPLE
Der Angeklagte wurde zur Todesstrafe verurteilt.
The defendant was sentenced to the death penalty.
Typical verbs
In legal and political contexts, the death penalty is often used with specific verbs: one can 'fordern' (demand) it, 'verhängen' (impose it officially), 'vollstrecken' (carry it out), or 'abschaffen' (abolish it).
EXAMPLE
Mehrere Organisationen kämpfen dafür, die Todesstrafe weltweit abzuschaffen.
Several organizations are fighting to abolish the death penalty worldwide.
Das Urteil wurde gesprochen, aber die Todesstrafe wurde noch nicht vollstreckt.
The verdict was delivered, but the death penalty has not yet been carried out.
Fixed expression
The construction 'unter Todesstrafe stehen' means that a particular crime can be punished by death. The subject here is the crime.
EXAMPLE
In diesem Land steht auf Drogenhandel die Todesstrafe.
In this country, drug trafficking carries the death penalty.
Compare with
Todesstrafe vs Hinrichtung
execution
The Todesstrafe is the legally prescribed killing of a person as punishment. Hinrichtung, by contrast, refers to the specific act of carrying out a death sentence. Todesstrafe is used for the type of punishment, while Hinrichtung is used for its actual enforcement.
Todesstrafe
Das Gericht verhängte gegen den Verurteilten die Todesstrafe.
The court sentenced the convicted person to the death penalty.
Hinrichtung
Die Hinrichtung des Verurteilten wurde am folgenden Morgen vollzogen.
The execution of the convicted person was carried out the following morning.
In real life
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