German Conversation · Level 10
89 words
German word
töten
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈtøːtən/
Meaning
- verbkill
Example
Die Schlange tötet die Maus.
The snake kills the mouse.
More examples
Sie hat aus Versehen eine Maus getötet.
She accidentally killed a mouse.
Core concept
A forceful act brings a living person or creature into the state of death.
Common phrases
jemanden töten
kill someone
aus Versehen töten
accidentally kill
Similar words
umbringen: An informal everyday expression for killing a person.
ermorden: Killing a person deliberately through a planned or malicious criminal act.
erschießen: Killing a person or creature by shooting it with a gun.
vergiften: Killing a person or animal by using poison or another toxic substance.
Definition in German
einen Menschen, ein Tier oder etwas durch eine Handlung in den Zustand des Todes bringen
Word origin
The verb töten developed from the Germanic adjective tôt, 'dead', through an older causative verb meaning to make dead.
Usage tips
- For people, umbringen is generally more colloquial, while töten is direct and common in factual or formal contexts.