nounnoun
der Mörder, –
murderer
Meaning (in English)
Mörder means “murderer”: a person who intentionally kills another person unlawfully.
- Der Mörder = the (male) murderer
- Die Mörderin = the (female) murderer
- Plural: die Mörder
In everyday language it is primarily used for someone who commits Mord (murder), not just any killing.
Word parts
- Mord = murder
- -er = a common German suffix meaning “someone who does/does something” (agent noun)
So Mörder literally means “one who commits murder.”
German synonyms (similar meaning)
Depending on context:
- Killer (loanword; often more general or informal)
- Mordschuldiger (legal/formal: someone guilty of murder)
- Täter (very general: perpetrator/offender; not specific to murder)
- Verbrecher (criminal; broader)
German antonyms (opposites)
There is no exact direct antonym, but context-based opposites include:
- Unschuldiger (innocent person)
- Opfer (victim)
Related words (useful contrast)
- Totschläger = someone who commits Totschlag (manslaughter; killing without the legal definition of Mord)
- Mörderisch (adjective) = murderous, brutal, deadly (also figurative, e.g., mörderisches Tempo “a killer pace”)
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Examples
Der Mörder wurde gefasst.noun
The murderer was apprehended.
Ein Mörder flieht oft vor der Polizei.noun
A murderer often flees from the police.
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