German word

Todesurteil

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtoːdəsˌʊʁtaɪ̯l/

Meaning

  • neuter noundeath sentence

Example

Das Gericht verhängte mehrere Todesurteile.

The court handed down several death sentences.

Illustration for Todesurteil (death sentence)

More examples

Trotz internationaler Proteste wurde das Todesurteil nicht aufgehoben.

Despite international protests, the death sentence was not overturned.

Core concept

A judge's written ruling places a condemned person under the most severe criminal sentence.

Common phrases

  • ein Todesurteil verkünden

    pronounce a death sentence

  • zu einem Todesurteil führen

    lead to a death sentence

Similar words

Todesstrafe: The death penalty as a punishment established by law.
Hinrichtung: The act or method of carrying out a death sentence.
Vollstreckung: The procedure for carrying out the imposed punishment.
Verurteilung: A court decision declaring a person guilty.

Definition in German

Das Urteil eines Gerichts, durch das eine Person zur Todesstrafe verurteilt wird.

Word origin

Todesurteil joins Tod ('death') and Urteil ('judgment' or 'verdict') in a German compound noun.

Usage tips

  • Todesurteil names the sentence, whereas Todesstrafe names the death penalty as a legal punishment.

Opposites

  • Begnadigungpardonnoun

Word lists with this word