underworld
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underworld
The world of organized crime and criminal activity. It refers to all the people involved in illegal activities such as drug trafficking or protection rackets.
Der Kommissar ermittelte verdeckt in der Frankfurter Unterwelt.
The detective investigated undercover in Frankfurt's underworld.
The word consists of 'unter' (under) and 'Welt' (world). It describes a world that exists beneath normal, visible society—whether the world of criminals or the realm of the dead.
Der Held der Geschichte reist in eine verborgene Unterwelt.
The hero of the story travels into a hidden underworld.
The meaning is usually clear from the context. If the topic is crime, the mafia, police, or illegal business, it refers to the criminal milieu. If the topic is gods, myths, souls, or death, it refers to the realm of the dead.
Die Polizei hat einen neuen Zeugen im Fall gegen die organisierte Unterwelt.
The police have a new witness in the case against the organized underworld.
In the criminal context, 'Unterwelt' (underworld) is often used with certain verbs and prepositions. Typical phrases are 'in der Unterwelt ermitteln' (to investigate in the underworld), 'zur Unterwelt gehören' (to belong to the underworld), or 'Kontakte zur Unterwelt haben' (to have contacts in the underworld).
Der Mafiaboss galt als eine der wichtigsten Figuren der New Yorker Unterwelt.
The mafia boss was considered one of the most important figures in the New York underworld.
In the mythological meaning, 'Unterwelt' (underworld) is often connected with verbs of movement. Common phrases are 'in die Unterwelt hinabsteigen' (to descend into the underworld), 'aus der Unterwelt zurückkehren' (to return from the underworld), or 'über die Unterwelt herrschen' (to rule over the underworld).
Persephone musste jedes Jahr für mehrere Monate in die Unterwelt zurückkehren.
Persephone had to return to the underworld for several months each year.
hell
'die Hölle' and 'die Unterwelt' can both have to do with ideas about what happens after death. In religions, 'die Hölle' often means the place of punishment and suffering. The word is also used figuratively for a very bad situation. 'die Unterwelt' in myths more often means the realm of the dead, not necessarily a place of punishment. In addition, 'die Unterwelt' can also mean the criminal underworld. The words can be confused because both sound dark and dangerous. In practice: for punishment, torment, or a very bad experience, 'Hölle' is more suitable; for the realm of the dead or organized crime, 'Unterwelt' is more suitable.
In dem alten Mythos steigt der Held in die Unterwelt hinab.
In the old myth, the hero descends into the underworld.
Nach drei Stunden im Stau war die Fahrt für uns die Hölle.
After three hours stuck in traffic, the trip was hell for us.