German word

Konzentrationslager

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔnt͡sɛntʁaˈt͡si̯oːnsˌlaːgɐ/

Meaning

  • neuter nounconcentration camp

Example

Viele Konzentrationslager wurden nach dem Krieg geschlossen.

Many concentration camps were closed after the war.

Illustration for Konzentrationslager (concentration camp)

More examples

Viele Überlebende berichten über ihre Zeit in Konzentrationslagern.

Many survivors report on their time in concentration camps.

Core concept

Rows of barracks inside a controlled enclosure represent people stripped of freedom and subjected to harsh treatment.

Common phrases

  • über Konzentrationslager sprechen

    talk about concentration camps

  • Gedenken an die Opfer der Konzentrationslager

    commemoration of the victims of concentration camps

  • Fotos von Konzentrationslagern

    photos of concentration camps

Similar words

Vernichtungslager: A camp established to systematically imprison and murder large numbers of people.
Arbeitslager: A detention camp where prisoners are forced to perform labor.
Internierungslager: A camp for temporarily detaining people for wartime or political reasons.
Gefängnis: A state-run facility for holding people accused or convicted of crimes.

Definition in German

Name für Einrichtungen, in denen Personen systematisch interniert und oft unter unmenschlichen Bedingungen festgehalten werden.

Word origin

Konzentrationslager combines the borrowed noun Konzentration, 'concentration', with the German noun Lager, 'camp', and became strongly associated with Nazi detention camps.

Usage tips

  • In present-day German, Konzentrationslager usually evokes the Nazi camp system, so casual metaphorical use can sound trivializing.

Opposites

Related words

  • Konzentrationslagerüberlebenderconcentration camp survivornoun
  • Konzentrationslagerinsasseconcentration camp inmatenoun

Word lists with this word