convicted / condemned
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convicted
Describes a person who has been found guilty of a crime by a court. It is the result of a court judgment.
Der verurteilte Dieb musste für zwei Jahre ins Gefängnis.
The convicted thief had to go to prison for two years.
'Verurteilt' (convicted/condemned) is the past participle of the verb 'verurteilen' (to convict/condemn). It is often used like an adjective before a noun to describe a person who has received a court judgment.
Der verurteilte Betrüger zeigte keine Reue.
The convicted fraudster showed no remorse.
In a legal context, 'verurteilen' (to convict/sentence) is often followed by the preposition 'zu' with the dative for the punishment, and 'wegen' with the genitive for the crime.
Er wurde zu einer Bewährungsstrafe verurteilt.
He was sentenced to probation.
The fixed expression 'zu etwas verurteilt sein' (to be condemned to something) describes a negative situation that one cannot escape. It expresses a feeling of powerlessness or compulsion.
Ohne Internetverbindung war er zur Untätigkeit verurteilt.
Without an internet connection, he was condemned to inactivity.
You can recognize the legal meaning from the context of court, punishment, or crime. You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that the 'punishment' is an everyday, negative activity such as waiting or staying silent.
Der Angeklagte wurde zu einer Geldstrafe verurteilt.
The defendant was sentenced to a fine.
damn / damned
'verdammt' and 'verurteilt' can both express that someone receives a severe punishment or a harsh fate. Their usage, however, is different. 'verurteilt' fits especially with courts: a person is found guilty after a judgment. It can also mean figuratively that someone is forced to do something. 'verdammt' in this meaning belongs more to religion, myths, or very dramatic language: someone is damned to eternal punishment. The words can be confused because both are connected with punishment. For normal legal situations, use 'verurteilt', not 'verdammt'.
Der Täter wurde zu drei Jahren Gefängnis verurteilt.
The offender was sentenced to three years in prison.
In der alten Sage ist der Verräter für immer verdammt.
In the old legend, the traitor is damned forever.