German word

Totschlag

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtoːtʃlaːk/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmanslaughter

Example

Der Totschlag ist eine schwere Straftat.

Manslaughter is a serious crime.

Illustration for Totschlag (manslaughter)

More examples

Das Opfer eines Totschlags war ein 30-jähriger Mann.

The victim of manslaughter was a 30-year-old man.

Core concept

A courtroom label for an intentional killing that lacks the special legal features associated with murder.

Common phrases

  • Opfer eines Totschlags

    victim of manslaughter

  • Strafverfahren wegen Totschlag

    proceedings for manslaughter

Similar words

Mord: A murder involving special aggravating features such as planning or particular cruelty.
Tötung: A neutral term for any act that causes a person's death.
Fahrlässige Tötung: Causing a person's death through criminal negligence or failure to take due care.

Definition in German

Totschlag bezeichnet die vorsätzliche Tötung eines Menschen, die nicht die gesetzlichen Merkmale des Mordes aufweist.

Word origin

The noun is a Germanic compound of tot, 'dead', and Schlag, 'blow' or 'stroke', which developed from the idea of a deadly blow into a legal term.

Usage tips

  • Totschlag is masculine, with der Totschlag and the genitive des Totschlags, and it is distinct from the legally separate offense Mord.

Related words

  • Totschlagsverfahrenproceedings for manslaughternoun
  • totschlagenbeat someone to deathverb

Word lists with this word