German word

Strafe

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃtʁaːfə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpunishment

Example

Wenn du lügst, droht dir eine Strafe.

If you lie, you will face punishment.

Illustration for Strafe (punishment)

More examples

Für falsches Parken bekommst du oft eine Strafe.

You often get a fine for parking illegally.

Core concept

A violation triggers a sanction that can range from a monetary penalty to a broader punishment.

Common phrases

  • mit Strafe rechnen

    expect punishment

  • eine Strafe verhängen

    impose a punishment

  • eine Strafe zahlen müssen

    have to pay a fine

Similar words

Bestrafung: The formal act of punishing someone for a violation.
Geldstrafe: A monetary penalty ordered by a court.
Bußgeld: A monetary penalty imposed by a public authority for an offense.
Sanktion: An official penalty imposed for breaking rules or in international relations.

Definition in German

Nachteil oder Sanktion, die gegen eine Person wegen eines Fehlverhaltens verhängt wird.

Word origin

Strafe is an inherited Germanic noun documented as Middle High German strāfe and connected with the verb strafen.

Usage tips

  • Strafe can refer to legal or nonlegal punishment, whereas a fine specifically paid as money is often called eine Geldstrafe.

Other meanings

  • penaltynoun
  • finenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • strafenpunishverb
  • Strafmaßseverity of punishmentnoun
  • Strafzettelparking ticketnoun

Word lists with this word