das  Tötungsdelikt

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtøːtʊŋsˌdɛlɪkt/

⚖️ What does "das Tötungsdelikt" mean?

Das Tötungsdelikt (noun, neuter) is a German legal umbrella term for all criminal offenses that result in the death of another person and are punishable by law. It's a crime against life (Straftat gegen das Leben).

This general term covers various specific offenses defined in the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB), such as:

• Mord (§ 211 StGB): Murder; killing that meets specific criteria like greed (Habgier) or treachery (Heimtücke).
• Totschlag (§ 212 StGB): Manslaughter/Voluntary Manslaughter; intentional killing without the specific characteristics of Mord.
• Tötung auf Verlangen (§ 216 StGB): Killing on request; killing a person upon their explicit and earnest request.
• Fahrlässige Tötung (§ 222 StGB): Negligent homicide; causing death by failing to exercise the necessary care.

⚠️ It's important to understand that "Tötungsdelikt" is a general term, and the precise legal classification depends on the specific elements of the crime.

📚 Grammar Spotlight: Das Tötungsdelikt

The word "Tötungsdelikt" is neuter. The article is das. It's a compound noun formed from "Tötung" (killing, feminine) and "Delikt" (offense, neuter). The gender is determined by the base word "Delikt".

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Die Polizei ermittelt in einem mutmaßlichen Tötungsdelikt.
   The police are investigating a suspected homicide offense.
2. Der Angeklagte wurde wegen eines versuchten Tötungsdelikts verurteilt.
   The defendant was convicted of attempted homicide.
3. Die Aufklärungsquote bei Tötungsdelikten ist in Deutschland relativ hoch.
   The clearance rate for homicide offenses is relatively high in Germany.
4. Die Nachrichten berichteten über mehrere schwere Tötungsdelikte am Wochenende.
   The news reported several serious homicide offenses over the weekend.

🗣️ Usage in Context

"Das Tötungsdelikt" is primarily used in legal and police contexts, as well as in media reporting on criminal cases. It is a formal and precise umbrella term.

• Context: Criminal law (Strafrecht), criminology, court proceedings, police reports, news reports.
• Differentiation: In everyday language, people often simply say "Mord" (murder) or "Totschlag" (manslaughter), even if the exact legal classification isn't yet determined. "Tötungsdelikt" is the overarching, neutral term used before details like intent (Vorsatz) or murder characteristics (Mordmerkmale) are clarified.
• Formality: Very formal. In informal conversations, it might sound distant or overly technical.

Example: While tabloid media might sensationally report a "Mord", the police in an official statement are more likely to refer to a "Tötungsdelikt" until the investigation is complete.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Many legal terms in German ending in "-ikt" (like Delikt, Edikt, Verdikt), often derived from Latin, are neuter (sächlich). Remember das Delikt (the offense), therefore also das Tötungsdelikt. Think of it describing a neutral 'case' or 'incident' in the legal sense before judgment.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Tötung (killing) + Delikt (offense/crime). It's literally a 'killing offense' – a crime involving killing. Quite logical!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but distinct terms:

• Delikt: General term for a criminal offense or misdemeanor, not necessarily resulting in death.
• Körperverletzung mit Todesfolge: Bodily harm resulting in death (§ 227 StGB); legally distinct from intentional homicide (vorsätzliches Tötungsdelikt) as the death was not intended but resulted from the assault.

😄 A Little Joke

Richter: "Angeklagter, warum haben Sie den Mann getötet?"
Angeklagter: "Hohes Gericht, es war Notwehr!"
Richter: "Notwehr? Aber Sie haben ihm doch zehnmal in den Rücken geschossen!"
Angeklagter: "Naja, er hörte einfach nicht auf, auf mich zuzukommen!"

Translation:
Judge: "Defendant, why did you kill the man?"
Defendant: "Your Honor, it was self-defense!"
Judge: "Self-defense? But you shot him ten times in the back!"
Defendant: "Well, he just wouldn't stop coming towards me!"

(Please note: This is dark humor and not intended to trivialize the seriousness of homicide offenses.)

📜 A Poem about the Term

Ein Schatten fällt, ein Leben endet kalt,
Das Tötungsdelikt, im Gesetz verankert alt.
Paragraph ruht schwer, sucht nach Motiv und Grund,
War's Mord, war's Totschlag, tut es die Wahrheit kund?
Ein Oberbegriff, der Schrecken in sich birgt,
Wo Recht und Unrecht um die Deutung ringt.

Translation:
A shadow falls, a life ends cold,
Das Tötungsdelikt, in law anchored old.
The statute weighs heavy, seeks motive and ground,
Was it murder, was it manslaughter, will truth be found?
An umbrella term, holding terror within,
Where right and wrong wrestle over the meaning.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Wort aus Recht und Schrift,
Beschreibe Taten, die das Leben trifft.
Ob Mord, ob Totschlag, fahrlässig gescheh'n,
Als Oberbegriff bin ich zu seh'n.
Mit 'das' steh ich im deutschen Satz,
Ein schwerwiegender juristischer Platz. Was bin ich?

Translation:
I am a word from law and script,
Describing deeds where life is clipped.
Be it murder, manslaughter, negligently done,
As an umbrella term, I'm the one.

With 'das' I stand in the German phrase,
A grave legal concept in law's maze.

What am I?

Solution: das Tötungsdelikt

💡 Other Information

Word Composition

The word "Tötungsdelikt" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:

• Die Tötung: The noun derived from the verb "töten" (to kill).
• Das Delikt: From the Latin delictum ('offense', 'fault'). Generally means a punishable act or crime.

Relevance

Homicide offenses (Tötungsdelikte) are among the most serious crimes in any legal system and have profound consequences for victims, perpetrators, and society. Their legal processing and media coverage often attract significant public interest.