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Straftäter
🧐 What Exactly is a Straftäter?
A Straftäter is a person (usually male, or when gender is unknown/irrelevant) who has committed a Straftat (criminal offense), meaning they have violated a law for which a punishment is stipulated. It's a legal and colloquial term.
The word refers to someone who carried out a criminal act. It doesn't necessarily imply a conviction, but it's often used in that context.
The feminine form is die Straftäterin.
⚠️ Important: Not every person accused of a crime is automatically a Straftäter. Legally, someone is only considered a Straftäter after a final conviction.
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 in Detail: Der Straftäter
The noun „Straftäter“ is masculine, taking the article der. It follows the weak N-declension (schwache N-Deklination), which means it adds an '-n' ending in all cases except the nominative singular.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Straftäter |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Straftätern |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Straftätern |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Straftätern |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Straftäter |
| Genitive | der | Straftäter |
| Dative | den | Straftätern |
| Accusative | die | Straftäter |
Example Sentences
- Der Straftäter wurde von der Polizei gefasst. (The offender was caught by the police.)
- Die Aussage des Straftäters wurde protokolliert. (The offender's statement was recorded.)
- Das Gericht verurteilte den Straftäter zu einer Freiheitsstrafe. (The court sentenced the offender to prison.)
- Man half den Straftätern bei der Resozialisierung. (Help was provided to the offenders for rehabilitation.)
🗣️ How to Use 'Straftäter'?
The term „Straftäter“ is primarily used in a legal context (juristischer Kontext), as well as in news reports (Nachrichten) and everyday language (Alltagssprache) when discussing crime.
- Context: Reporting on crimes, court proceedings, crime statistics, discussions about criminal law and rehabilitation.
- Distinction: It's more specific than „Verdächtiger“ (suspect) or „Angeklagter“ (defendant). A Straftäter is someone who committed the crime (often implying: and has been convicted).
- Formality: The term is formal but also common in general usage.
Sometimes the term is used more broadly for someone who has done something 'forbidden' or morally wrong, even if it's not a criminal offense in the legal sense, but this is a metaphorical usage.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of a stereotypical 'Täter' (perpetrator) as male - 'he did it' - so it's the masculine article der Straftäter.
Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: 'Strafe' means punishment or penalty, and 'Täter' means perpetrator or doer. A Straftäter is a Täter who deserves or received a Strafe.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Verbrecher (der): Often used synonymously, sometimes perceived as stronger or referring to more serious crimes (criminal).
- Delinquent (der): More formal, often used for juvenile offenders.
- Gesetzesbrecher (der): Emphasizes the breaking of the law (lawbreaker).
- Krimineller (der): Very general term for someone who commits criminal acts (criminal).
- Täter (der): General term for someone who commits an act (not necessarily a crime) (perpetrator). Often synonymous in context.
⚠️ Potential for Confusion:
- Verdächtiger (der): Only someone who is suspected.
- Angeklagter (der): Someone who has been charged but not yet convicted (defendant).
😄 A Little Joke
Richter: "Angeklagter, warum haben Sie die Parkuhr mit einem Hammer zertrümmert?"
Angeklagter: "Aus Notwehr, Herr Richter! Sie wollte mein letztes Geld verschlucken!"
Translation: Judge: "Defendant, why did you smash the parking meter with a hammer?"
Defendant: "In self-defense, Your Honor! It was about to swallow my last money!"
(Relates to a (minor) criminal offense - property damage)
📜 Poem about the Straftäter
Im Schatten schleicht, mit schnellem Schritt,
Der Straftäter, das Gesetz er litt.
Ein Fehltritt nur, ein falscher Pfad,
Schon ist's geschehn, die böse Tat.
Doch Reue kommt, vielleicht zu spät,
Wenn Justitia ihr Urteil säht.
Translation:
In shadow creeps, with rapid stride,
The offender, where law he defied.
A misstep only, a wrongful way,
Already done, the evil foray.
But remorse arrives, perhaps too late,
When Justice sows its judging fate.
❓ Riddle
Ich breche das Gesetz, bewusst und klar,
bin der Grund, warum Polizei ist da.
Vor Gericht steh ich, wenn man mich fasst,
wer bin ich, der die Regeln hasst?
Translation:
I break the law, consciously and clear,
I'm the reason the police are here.
I stand in court, if I am caught,
who am I, who hates the rules taught?
Solution: Der Straftäter (The offender/criminal)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word „Straftäter“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- Strafe (die): Punishment, penalty, sentence.
- Täter (der): Perpetrator, doer, agent (here: of the crime).
Related Terms:
- Straftat (die): The criminal offense itself.
- Strafrecht (das): Criminal law (the area of law dealing with crime and punishment).
- Strafmaß (das): The extent or type of punishment.
- Strafverfolgung (die): Criminal prosecution (the activity of authorities investigating crimes and prosecuting offenders).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Straftäter?
The noun "Straftäter" is masculine. The correct article is der Straftäter. The feminine form is "die Straftäterin", and the plural is "die Straftäter".