German word

Tatort

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtaːtˌɔʁt/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncrime scene

Example

Die Ermittler untersuchen den Tatort.

The investigators are examining the crime scene.

Illustration for Tatort (crime scene)

More examples

In den Nachrichten gab es eine Meldung zum Tatort.

There was a report about the crime scene on the news.

Core concept

A marked-off location where investigators collect clues after a crime.

Common phrases

  • über den Tatort sprechen

    talk about the crime scene

  • Polizei am Tatort

    police at the crime scene

  • Berichte zum Tatort

    reports about the crime scene

Similar words

Schauplatz: The setting or location of an event or incident.
Ort des Geschehens: A report-style expression for the place where an event took place.

Definition in German

Bezeichnung für den Ort, an dem ein Verbrechen stattgefunden hat und der von Ermittlern untersucht wird.

Word origin

The noun combines German Tat, an act or deed, with Ort, a place, and applies the resulting compound to a criminal act's location.

Usage tips

  • The common phrase am Tatort uses the dative phrase an dem Tatort, contracted to am Tatort.

Related words

  • Tatortmeldungcrime scene reportnoun
  • Tatortfotocrime scene photonoun

Word lists with this word