tear gas
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tear gas
A chemical irritant that causes severe irritation of the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin on contact and leads to tearing and temporary disorientation. It is often used by the police to disperse crowds.
Die Polizei setzte Tränengas ein, um die gewalttätigen Demonstranten zurückzudrängen.
The police used tear gas to push back the violent protesters.
The word is composed of 'Tränen' (tears) and 'Gas' (gas). So it literally describes a gas that causes tears and makes people cry.
Der Kontakt mit dem Tränengas führte sofort zu starken Schmerzen in den Augen.
Contact with the tear gas immediately caused severe pain in the eyes.
'Tränengas' (tear gas) is very frequently used with the separable verb 'einsetzen' (to use/deploy). The police or security forces use tear gas to control a situation.
Die Sicherheitskräfte drohten damit, Tränengas einzusetzen.
The security forces threatened to use tear gas.
Besides 'einsetzen' (to use/deploy), 'Tränengas' (tear gas) is often combined with verbs such as 'verschießen' (to fire) or 'verwenden' (to use). Protesters can also be 'getroffen werden' (be hit) by tear gas.
Die Polizei verschoss Tränengaskartuschen in die Menge.
The police fired tear gas canisters into the crowd.
pepper spray
'das Pfefferspray' and 'das Tränengas' are both irritants that can strongly irritate the eyes and airways. 'Pfefferspray' normally means a small spray used for self-defense against an individual person or an animal. 'Tränengas' sounds more like a chemical agent used, for example, by the police against larger groups. The words are easy to confuse because both have similar effects. 'Pfefferspray' is more natural when talking about a spray can for personal safety, and 'Tränengas' when talking about operations at demonstrations or in crowds.
Bei der Demonstration setzte die Polizei Tränengas ein.
At the demonstration, the police used tear gas.
Sie trägt Pfefferspray in der Tasche, weil sie abends oft allein nach Hause geht.
She carries pepper spray in her bag because she often walks home alone in the evening.