der
Amokläufer
🚨 What exactly is an Amokläufer?
The German term der Amokläufer refers to a male person who commits an Amoklauf (rampage shooting/killing spree). An Amoklauf is an act of violence where a person, seemingly randomly or targeted, kills or injures an indeterminate number of people, often in a public place, and usually continues until they are stopped or commit suicide. The word originally comes from the Malay word amuk, meaning 'furious' or 'raging'.
This is a very serious and sensitive term used in the context of tragic events. ⚠️ It is crucial to use the term thoughtfully and respectfully.
The female form is die Amokläuferin.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Der Amokläufer
The noun der Amokläufer is masculine and belongs to the weak N-declension. This means it adds an '-n' or '-en' ending in all cases except the nominative singular.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Amokläufer |
| Genitive | des | Amokläufern |
| Dative | dem | Amokläufern |
| Accusative | den | Amokläufern |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Amokläufer |
| Genitive | der | Amokläufer |
| Dative | den | Amokläufern |
| Accusative | die | Amokläufer |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Polizei konnte den Amokläufer schließlich stellen.
(The police were finally able to apprehend the person running amok.) - Die Motive des Amokläufers blieben zunächst unklar.
(The motives of the person running amok remained unclear at first.) - In den Nachrichten wurde über den Einsatz gegen den Amokläufer berichtet.
(The news reported on the operation against the person running amok.) - Experten analysieren das psychologische Profil von Amokläufern.
(Experts analyze the psychological profile of people who run amok.)
🗣️ Usage in Context
The term Amokläufer is used almost exclusively in connection with severe acts of violence, particularly in media reports, police investigations, and psychological/sociological analyses of such events.
- Media Reporting: Used to name the perpetrator of such an act. It's important to ensure sensitive and non-sensational reporting.
- Psychology/Criminology: The term serves to categorize and analyze the perpetrator's profile and motives.
- Everyday Language: Due to the term's gravity, it's rarely used in casual conversation, or only with great caution. Figurative, trivializing use is inappropriate.
⚠️ Distinction: An Amokläufer often differs from an Attentäter (assassin/attacker), whose act is usually politically or ideologically motivated and directed against specific targets, whereas an Amoklauf is often seen as an expression of a deep personal crisis or psychological disorder, and victim selection may appear more random.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article: Imagine a man (der Mann) who loses control and starts running – der Amokläufer (Läufer = runner).
Meaning: Think of the word "Amok" as a signal for extreme, uncontrolled rage or confusion, and "Läufer" (runner) for the person acting and running around in this state (often with weapons).
🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms
Synonyms (often context-dependent and less precise):
- Person, die Amok läuft (person running amok)
- Gewalttäter (violent offender - general)
- (In specific contexts also) Heckenschütze (sniper), Massenmörder (mass murderer)
Note: True synonyms are rare as the term is very specific.
Antonyms (in the sense of opposites):
Direct antonyms don't exist. One could name contrasting concepts:
- Friedensstifter (peacemaker)
- Helfer (helper)
- Lebensretter (lifesaver)
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms:
- Attentäter: Often acts out of political/ideological motives against specific targets/persons.
- Terrorist: Aims to spread fear and terror through violence to achieve political goals.
- Mörder (murderer): Kills one or more people, but not necessarily in the context of an Amoklauf (e.g., crime of passion, robbery-murder).
😅 An (Inappropriate) Joke?
Aufgrund der ernsten und tragischen Natur des Begriffs "Amokläufer" ist es unangemessen, Witze darüber zu machen. Humor hat hier keinen Platz.
(Translation: Due to the serious and tragic nature of the term "Amokläufer", making jokes about it is inappropriate. Humor has no place here.)
📜 Poem about the Void After
Stille nach dem lauten Schrei,
Ein Schatten huscht vorbei.
Zerbrochenes Glas, ein stummer Raum,
Ein jäher Riss im Lebenstraum.
Der Läufer fort, die Wut verglüht,
Zurück bleibt Leid, das nie verblüht.
(Translation: Silence after the loud scream, / A shadow flits by. / Broken glass, a silent room, / A sudden tear in life's dream. / The runner gone, the rage subsided, / What remains is sorrow that never fades.)
(A reflective verse addressing the tragedy without glorifying the act.)
❓ A Riddle
Ich laufe, doch kein Ziel ist klar,
Bringe Schrecken, Leid und Gefahr.
Mein Name klingt nach Wut und Hast,
Ein dunkler Schatten, schwere Last.
Wer bin ich? (Hinweis: Ein sehr ernstes Wort.)
(Translation:
I run, but no goal is clear,
Bringing terror, suffering, and danger near.
My name sounds of rage and haste,
A dark shadow, a heavy waste.
Who am I?
(Hint: A very serious word.))
Solution: Der Amokläufer
✨ Further Insights: Der Amokläufer
Word Origin (Etymology)
The word Amok originates from Malay (amuk) and describes a state of blind rage in which a person attacks uncontrollably. It entered German via Portuguese and Dutch.
Word Composition
Amokläufer is a compound noun, composed of:
- Amok: The state of frenzy or uncontrolled attack.
- Läufer: Runner (here in the figurative sense of acting in this state).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Amokläufer?
The word "Amokläufer" is masculine, so the correct article is der. It refers to a male person committing a rampage killing or spree. The female form is "die Amokläuferin".