retaliation
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retaliation
An action carried out as revenge or punishment for a wrong or attack suffered. 'Vergeltung' (retaliation) aims to pay someone back in kind.
Als Akt der Vergeltung für den Angriff bombardierte die Armee feindliche Stellungen.
As an act of retaliation for the attack, the army bombed enemy positions.
'Vergeltung' (retaliation) is the noun form of the verb 'vergelten' (to repay/retaliate). 'Vergelten' means to pay someone back for something, usually in a negative sense as a reaction to a bad deed.
Er wollte das ihm angetane Unrecht vergelten.
He wanted to repay the wrong that had been done to him.
'Vergeltung' (retaliation) is a strong and formal word. It is used for serious acts of revenge or military counterattacks, not for small everyday arguments.
Der Angriff wurde als brutaler Akt der Vergeltung beschrieben.
The attack was described as a brutal act of retaliation.
Pay attention to the prepositions: 'aus Vergeltung' (out of retaliation) describes the motive for an action, while 'als Vergeltung' (as retaliation) describes the function of the action.
Er handelte aus reiner Vergeltung.
He acted out of pure retaliation.
The most common use is the fixed expression 'Vergeltung üben' (to retaliate). It can be expanded with a preposition: 'Vergeltung für etwas üben' (to retaliate for something).
Die Gruppe schwor, für den Angriff Vergeltung zu üben.
The group swore to retaliate for the attack.
punishment / penalty
'die Strafe' and 'die Vergeltung' both describe a negative reaction to something someone has done. A punishment is usually a regulated consequence for wrong behavior, for example from a court, a school, or parents. Retaliation sounds more like paying someone back: someone reacts to a wrong or an attack they have suffered and wants to respond in kind. That is why 'Vergeltung' is closer to revenge than to a neutral punishment. Learners may confuse the words because both seem like a response to guilt. But 'Strafe' is more matter-of-fact, while 'Vergeltung' is more personal or harsher.
Nach dem Angriff kündigte die Gruppe Vergeltung an.
After the attack, the group announced retaliation.
Wegen des Betrugs bekam die Firma eine hohe Strafe.
Because of the fraud, the company received a heavy penalty.