ceasefire
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ceasefire
An agreement between warring parties to stop combat operations for a certain period of time or permanently.
Die verfeindeten Länder haben einen Waffenstillstand ausgehandelt, um Friedensgespräche zu führen.
The hostile countries negotiated a ceasefire in order to hold peace talks.
The word is made up of 'Waffen' (weapons, plural of 'die Waffe') and 'Stillstand' (standstill). So it literally describes a state in which the weapons stand still.
Der Waffenstillstand wurde von beiden Seiten respektiert.
The ceasefire was respected by both sides.
Certain verbs are often combined with 'Waffenstillstand' (ceasefire). You can 'aushandeln' (negotiate), 'vereinbaren' (agree on), or 'schließen' (conclude) one. The opposite is to 'brechen' (break) a ceasefire.
Die Diplomaten versuchten, einen Waffenstillstand auszuhandeln.
The diplomats tried to negotiate a ceasefire.
This word belongs to formal language and is used mainly in the context of war, conflicts, and politics. It is often found in news reports and historical texts.
Die UNO forderte einen sofortigen Waffenstillstand.
The UN called for an immediate ceasefire.
peace
Frieden and Waffenstillstand can both describe a situation with no current fighting. However, a Waffenstillstand is an agreement that ends fighting for a specific period or permanently; Frieden describes the state of being without war, without specifying how long it lasts or how it was achieved. Use “Waffenstillstand” for the agreement and “Frieden” for the resulting state.
Zwischen den beiden Ländern gilt zunächst ein Waffenstillstand für drei Monate.
The two countries have initially agreed to a three-month ceasefire.
Zwischen den beiden Ländern herrscht seit mehreren Jahren Frieden.
The two countries have been at peace for several years.
