die Todesstrafe, -n
capital punishment
The German word "Todesstrafe" is a compound noun made of:
- Tod – meaning "death"
- Strafe – meaning "punishment" or "penalty"
Todesstrafe translates to "death penalty" or "capital punishment," referring to a legally authorized punishment where a person is put to death for a crime.
Similar words:
- Hinrichtung – execution (the act of carrying out a death penalty)
- Strafe – punishment (general)
- Lebenslange Freiheitsstrafe – life imprisonment (alternative to Todesstrafe)
Difference:
"Todesstrafe" specifically denotes the punishment of death, while "Hinrichtung" is the execution process itself, and "Strafe" is a broader term for any punishment. Life imprisonment is a non-lethal alternative to the Todesstrafe.
Make “Todesstrafe” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Viele Länder haben die Todesstrafe abgeschafft.noun
Many countries have abolished capital punishment.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad