01
der Vandale
vandal
A person who deliberately and without reason destroys or damages public or private property.
example
Unbekannte Vandalen haben die Parkbänke mit Graffiti besprüht.
Unknown vandals sprayed the park benches with graffiti.
der Vandale
vandal
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Origin of the word
The modern meaning 'destroyer' is derived from the historical people known as the Vandals. They sacked Rome in the year 455, which is why their name became a symbol of senseless destruction in Europe.
EXAMPLE
Die Geschichte der Vandalen ist komplexer als ihr Ruf als reine Zerstörer.
The history of the Vandals is more complex than their reputation as mere destroyers.
N-declension
'Der Vandale' (the vandal) is a noun of the N-declension. This means it gets the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular. This is a common mistake.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei sucht nach dem Vandalen, der die Statue beschädigt hat.
The police are looking for the vandal who damaged the statue.
Context clue
The meaning is usually clear. If people are talking about 'Polizei' (police), 'Graffiti' (graffiti), 'Schaden' (damage), or 'Zerstörung' (destruction), the modern meaning is intended. In the context of 'Geschichte' (history), 'Spätantike' (Late Antiquity), 'Rom' (Rome), or 'Volksstamm' (tribe), the historical people are meant.
EXAMPLE
Die Vandalen haben in der Schule mehrere Fenster eingeschlagen.
The vandals smashed several windows at the school.
Word family
The act that a 'Vandale' (vandal) carries out is called 'Vandalismus' (vandalism). So if you are talking about the destruction itself, you use this related noun.
EXAMPLE
Vandalismus ist kein Spaß, sondern eine Straftat.
Vandalism is not a joke, but a criminal offense.
Compare with
Vandale vs Vandalismus
vandalism
'der Vandalismus' and 'der Vandale' belong to the same topic, but they do not refer to the same thing. 'Vandalismus' is the action or the problem: things are deliberately damaged or destroyed. 'Vandale' is the person who does this kind of thing. Learners may confuse the words because they look very similar. The important difference is between the act and the person doing it: you talk about 'Vandalismus' in a city or school, but about 'einem Vandalen' when you mean the person.
Vandale
Die Polizei sucht den Vandalen, der die Fensterscheibe zerstört hat.
The police are looking for the vandal who broke the windowpane.
Vandalismus
In der Nachbarschaft gab es letzte Nacht Vandalismus an mehreren Autos.
There was vandalism to several cars in the neighborhood last night.
In real life
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