Pfandrecht

The German word "Pfandrecht" is a noun that means "pledge right" or "lien". It is composed of "Pfand," which means "pledge" or "collateral," and "Recht," which means "right" or "law." "Pfandrecht" refers to the legal right of a creditor to take possession of a debtor's property until a debt is repaid. Similar legal terms in German include "Hypothek" (mortgage) and "Zwangspfändung" (forced seizure). The difference primarily lies in that "Pfandrecht" generally relates to movable property used as security for a debt, while "Hypothek" pertains to immovable property like real estate, representing a broader form of security.