German Conversation · Level 21
89 words
German word
Opfer
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈɔpfɐ/
Meaning
- neuter nounvictim
Example
Viele Opfer wurden im Erdbeben verletzt.
Many victims were injured in the earthquake.
More examples
Nach dem Betrug wandte sich das Opfer an die Polizei.
After the fraud, the victim turned to the police.
Core concept
A life, object, or person is the one that gets given up or left carrying the damage.
Common phrases
Opfer eines Betrugs
victim of a fraud
als Opfer anerkannt
recognized as a victim
viele Opfer
many victims
Similar words
Verletzte: A person who has suffered a physical injury.
Betroffene: A person affected by an event or difficult situation.
Geschädigter: A person who has suffered damage to property or rights.
Tote: People who have lost their lives.
Definition in German
Person, die durch ein Ereignis Schaden, Verletzung oder Tod erlitten hat oder Unrecht erfahren hat.
Word origin
The German noun preserves the older religious meaning of an offering from Latin offerre and later broadened to include a person harmed or wronged.
Usage tips
- In 'jemandem zum Opfer fallen,' the affected person or thing is in the dative, as in 'einem Betrug zum Opfer fallen.'