das
Gewaltverbrechen
⚖️ What does "das Gewaltverbrechen" mean?
Das Gewaltverbrechen (noun, neuter) refers to a serious crime involving the use or threat of physical force against one or more persons. It's an umbrella term for offenses such as Mord (murder), Totschlag (manslaughter), schwere Körperverletzung (grievous bodily harm), Raub (robbery), or Vergewaltigung (rape).
In German criminal law, a distinction is made between Verbrechen (felonies) and Vergehen (misdemeanors). Gewaltverbrechen typically fall into the category of Verbrechen, which carry a minimum sentence of one year's imprisonment or more.
The word is composed of Gewalt (violence) and Verbrechen (crime/felony). The article is das (neuter), like many nouns ending in "-chen" (though not the case here) or those describing general concepts (like das Verbrechen itself).
🚨 Attention: Not every crime is a Gewaltverbrechen. Theft without the use of force, for example, is not a Gewaltverbrechen but an Eigentumsdelikt (property crime).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
📚 Grammar under the Microscope: Das Gewaltverbrechen
"Das Gewaltverbrechen" is a noun of the neuter gender (Neutrum).
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Gewaltverbrechen |
| Genitive | des | Gewaltverbrechens |
| Dative | dem | Gewaltverbrechen |
| Accusative | das | Gewaltverbrechen |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Gewaltverbrechen |
| Genitive | der | Gewaltverbrechen |
| Dative | den | Gewaltverbrechen |
| Accusative | die | Gewaltverbrechen |
Example Sentences
- Die Polizei ermittelt wegen eines schweren Gewaltverbrechens.
(The police are investigating a serious violent crime.) (Genitive Singular) - Das Gewaltverbrechen erschütterte die kleine Stadt.
(The violent crime shocked the small town.) (Nominative Singular) - Die Zahl der Gewaltverbrechen ist leicht gestiegen.
(The number of violent crimes has slightly increased.) (Genitive Plural) - Man muss konsequent gegen Gewaltverbrechen vorgehen.
(One must take consistent action against violent crimes.) (Accusative Plural)
🗣️ Usage in Daily Life and Formal Contexts
The term das Gewaltverbrechen is primarily used in formal contexts:
- Law and Justice: In indictments, judgments, legal texts, and discussions.
- Media Reporting: Newspapers, news broadcasts, and reports on crime.
- Sociology and Criminology: In academic analyses of crime statistics and social causes.
- Political Debates: During discussions about internal security and stricter criminal laws.
In everyday language, people often refer more specifically to the act itself (e.g., "ein Raubüberfall" - a robbery, "eine Schlägerei" - a fight) or more generally use terms like "Gewalttat" (act of violence) or "schwere Straftat" (serious crime).
Distinction from other terms:
- Vergehen: A less serious crime (misdemeanor), typically punishable by less than one year's imprisonment.
- Straftat: The general term for any criminal offense (crime), covering both Verbrechen and Vergehen.
- Gewalttat: Similar to Gewaltverbrechen, but not strictly a legal term in the sense of the felony/misdemeanor classification. It can also include acts classified as misdemeanors if violence was involved.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Aid (das): Think of the related word das Verbrechen (the crime). "Gewaltverbrechen" is a more specific type and keeps the article das. Or imagine: Das (the) dreadful scenario of a violent crime – "scenario" translates to das Szenario, also neuter.
Meaning Aid: Break down the word: Gewalt (violence) + Verbrechen (crime/felony). It's logically a crime where violence plays a central role.
↔️ Opposites and Similar Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Kapitalverbrechen: Often used synonymously, refers to the most serious crimes (originally those punishable by death, capital crimes).
- Schwere Straftat: A broader term for serious offense/crime, including Gewaltverbrechen but potentially also other major crimes (e.g., white-collar crime).
- Verbrechen gegen Leib und Leben: Crimes against life and limb, a legal category covering many violent crimes.
Antonyms (Opposites)
- Vergehen: Misdemeanor (less serious crime).
- Bagatelldelikt: Petty offense (e.g., minor theft).
- Ordnungswidrigkeit: Administrative offense / minor infraction (not a crime, e.g., illegal parking).
Similar, but Distinct Terms
- Gewalttat: Act of violence; can also refer to a misdemeanor involving violence. Not always identical to the legal term Gewaltverbrechen.
- Körperverletzung: Bodily harm/assault; can be a Gewaltverbrechen (schwere Körperverletzung - grievous bodily harm) or a Vergehen (einfache Körperverletzung - simple assault).
😅 A Little (Legal) Chuckle
Warum nehmen Anwälte immer einen Bleistift mit ins Gericht?
Damit sie auf jeden Fall etwas „zu Protokoll“ geben können!
(Translation: Why do lawyers always take a pencil to court?
So they can definitely "put something on the record"! - It's a pun: "zu Protokoll geben" means "to state for the record", but Bleistift = pencil, which makes marks.)
(Please note: The topic of violent crime is serious. This joke relates generally to the legal context.)
📜 A Few Reflective Lines
Wo rohe Gewalt regiert,
Ein Verbrechen oft passiert.
Ein Schatten auf der Seele liegt,
Wo Unrecht über Frieden siegt.
Das Gewaltverbrechen, kalt und schwer,
Verletzt die Menschlichkeit so sehr.
(Translation:
Where raw violence reigns,
A crime often occurs.
A shadow lies upon the soul,
Where injustice triumphs over peace.
The violent crime, cold and grave,
Hurts humanity so much.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin kein kleines Ding, kein Scherz,
Verletze Körper, Geist und Herz.
Gesetzlich bin ich schwer bestraft,
Bin mehr als nur ein Diebstahl-Kraftakt.
Mit "das" steh ich im Wörterbuch,
Ein dunkler, ernster Fluch.
Was bin ich? (Lösung: das Gewaltverbrechen)
(Translation:
I'm not a small thing, not a joke,
I injure body, mind, and heart.
By law, I am severely punished,
I'm more than just a theft's strong effort.
With "das" I stand in the dictionary,
A dark, serious curse indeed.
What am I?
Answer: das Gewaltverbrechen)
🧩 Other Interesting Details
Word Composition (Kompositum):
The word "Gewaltverbrechen" is a typical German compound noun, combining two nouns:
- Die Gewalt: Force, violence
- Das Verbrechen: Crime, felony
So, combined, it describes a "crime of violence" or "crime using violence".
Statistical Relevance:
Gewaltverbrechen (violent crimes) are an important indicator in the German police crime statistics (Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik - PKS) and a subject of social science research to understand crime trends and causes.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Gewaltverbrechen?
The word "Gewaltverbrechen" is neuter. The correct article is das: das Gewaltverbrechen. It refers to a serious crime involving violence.