der
Entführer
🕵️ What exactly is an Entführer?
Der Entführer (masculine, plural: die Entführer) refers to a male person who unlawfully deprives another person of their liberty, often with the intention of extorting ransom or enforcing other demands. It signifies a kidnapper or abductor and relates to a criminal act.
The word is derived from the verb entführen (to kidnap, to abduct).
The female form is die Entführerin (plural: die Entführerinnen).
⚠️ Important: The word carries a strong negative connotation and is used in the context of crime.
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: Declension of 'der Entführer'
The noun 'Entführer' is masculine and follows the n-declension (weak masculine nouns), meaning it takes the ending -(e)n in all cases except the nominative singular.
Declension Table (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Entführer |
| Genitive | des | Entführers |
| Dative | dem | Entführer |
| Accusative | den | Entführer |
Declension Table (Plural)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Entführer |
| Genitive | der | Entführer |
| Dative | den | Entführern |
| Accusative | die | Entführer |
Example Sentences
- Die Polizei fahndet nach dem Entführer des Kindes. (The police are searching for the child's kidnapper.)
- Die Entführer forderten ein hohes Lösegeld. (The kidnappers demanded a high ransom.)
- Dem Entführer gelang zunächst die Flucht. (The kidnapper initially managed to escape.)
- Das Opfer konnte den Entführer später identifizieren. (The victim was later able to identify the kidnapper.)
🗣️ Usage in Context
The term 'Entführer' is primarily used in the context of crime and news reporting.
- Context: Criminal offenses, police reports, news, crime novels, movies.
- Typical Collocations: Der gefährliche Entführer (the dangerous kidnapper), die brutalen Entführer (the brutal kidnappers), der mutmaßliche Entführer (the alleged kidnapper).
- Distinction: A 'Geiselnehmer' (hostage-taker) holds people captive in one place, often after committing another crime, whereas an 'Entführer' takes a person away to another location. The terms are sometimes used synonymously but have slightly different focuses.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Nouns for male perpetrators are often der in German (der Dieb - the thief, der Mörder - the murderer, der Entführer). Imagine a male ('der') who *führ*s (leads) someone away.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the verb ent-führen. Ent- often means 'away' or 'off' (like in entfernen - to remove, entkommen - to escape) and führen means 'to lead'. So, an Entführer is someone who leads someone away against their will.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Kidnapper (borrowed from English, often colloquial)
- Geiselnehmer (hostage-taker)
- Menschenräuber (abductor of people; dated or literary)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Befreier (liberator)
- Retter (rescuer, savior)
- Beschützer (protector)
Similar but potentially misleading words:
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Entführer nie Bibliothekare mit?
Weil die immer "Pssssst!" machen und zur Rückgabe mahnen! 😄
--- Translation ---
Why do kidnappers never take librarians?
Because they always go "Shhhhh!" and demand things be returned! 😄
📜 Poem about the Entführer
Im Schatten schleicht, mit finst'rem Plan,
der Entführer, ein getrieb'ner Mann.
Er greift ins Licht, stiehlt Freiheit schnell,
Sein Tun verdunkelt, kalt und grell.
Doch Recht und Mut verfolgen ihn,
Sein böses Spiel findet kein Gewinn'.
--- Translation ---
In shadows creeps, with a dark plan,
The kidnapper, a driven man.
He reaches into light, steals freedom fast,
His deeds obscure, cold and vast.
But justice and courage pursue him still,
His evil game finds no fulfilled will.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich nehme, was mir nicht gehört,
Nicht Geld, nicht Gold, was mich betört.
Ich nehme Menschen, groß und klein,
Und sperre sie gefangen ein.
Mein Name klingt nach 'weg' und 'leiten'.
Wer bin ich in den dunklen Zeiten?
Lösung: Der Entführer
--- Translation ---
I take what isn't mine,
Not money, not gold, for which I pine.
I take people, large and small,
And lock them up, behind a wall.
My name sounds like 'away' and 'guide'.
Who am I in the darkest tide?
Answer: The kidnapper (Der Entführer)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition
The word 'Entführer' is an agent noun derived from the verb 'entführen' (to kidnap/abduct).
- ent-: Prefix often indicating separation, removal, or inception (here: away).
- führ(en): Verb stem of 'führen' (to lead, guide, bring).
- -er: Suffix used to form masculine nouns denoting a person performing the action.
The related noun for the act itself is die Entführung (the kidnapping, the abduction).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Entführer?
The word 'Entführer' is masculine. The correct article is der: der Entführer (singular) and die Entführer (plural). It refers to a male person who unlawfully kidnaps or abducts someone.