German word

Killer

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkɪlɐ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmurderer

Example

Der Killer wurde nach Jahren endlich gefasst.

The murderer was finally caught after years.

Illustration for Killer (murderer)

More examples

Ein professioneller Killer hinterließ keine Spuren.

A professional killer left no traces.

Core concept

A ruthless person who takes a life, with the image of a crime-film contract killer or assassin.

Common phrases

  • professioneller Killer

    professional killer

  • Auftragskiller

    contract killer

  • Serienkiller

    serial killer

Similar words

Mörder: A neutral, formal term for someone who has taken another person's life.
Täter: The person responsible for carrying out a crime.

Definition in German

Umgangssprachliche Bezeichnung für einen Mörder oder einen Auftragsmörder.

Word origin

The German noun Killer was adopted from English, where killer comes from the verb kill and names someone who kills.

Usage tips

  • Killer is colloquial and can sound sensational, so formal reports often use Mörder for a murderer instead.

Other meanings

  • hitmannoun
  • assassinnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Killerinfemale killernoun
  • Killerinstinktkiller instinctnoun

Word lists with this word