German Conversation · Level 114
44 words
German word
erschießen
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈʃiːsən/
Meaning
- verbshoot dead
Example
Der Mann wurde erschossen.
The man was shot dead.
More examples
Während der Jagd hat er aus Versehen einen Freund erschossen.
During the hunt, he accidentally shot a friend dead.
Core concept
The act begins as shooting but is defined by the fatal outcome for the person hit.
Common phrases
jemanden erschießen
shoot someone dead
aus Versehen erschießen
shoot someone dead by accident
bei einer Demonstration erschossen werden
be shot dead at a demonstration
Similar words
töten: Causing a person's death by any method.
schießen: Firing a gun or another weapon.
umbringen: A casual, blunt expression for killing someone.
Definition in German
Mit einer Schusswaffe jemanden töten
Word origin
German added the resultative prefix "er-" to "schießen"; the resulting verb means to bring about death by shooting.
Usage tips
- For a formal execution, German also uses "hinrichten"; "erschießen" specifically states that death occurs by shooting.