der  Totschlag

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtoːtʃlaːk/

📜 What does “der Totschlag” mean?

Der Totschlag is a term from German criminal law (defined in § 212 Strafgesetzbuch - StGB, the German Criminal Code). It describes the intentional killing of a human being that does not meet the legally defined criteria for Mord (murder), such as malice aforethought (Heimtücke), cruelty (Grausamkeit), greed (Habgier), base motives (niedrige Beweggründe), etc.

Essentially, it refers to a killing committed in the heat of passion or under strong emotional distress, without the specific aggravating factors that constitute Mord.

🚨 Important: Totschlag is still a serious felony (Verbrechen) punishable by imprisonment of no less than five years. It is by no means a 'lesser' form of killing in the sense of being trivial.

In English, the closest legal equivalent is generally manslaughter (specifically, voluntary manslaughter in some common law systems).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of Totschlag in Detail

The word „Totschlag“ is a masculine noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.

📝 Example Sentences

• Dem Angeklagten wurde Totschlag vorgeworfen.
  (The defendant was accused of manslaughter.)
• Die Abgrenzung zwischen Mord und Totschlag ist oft schwierig.
  (The distinction between murder and manslaughter is often difficult.)
• Das Gericht verurteilte ihn wegen Totschlags zu einer langjährigen Haftstrafe.
  (The court sentenced him to a long prison term for manslaughter.)
• Die Zahl der Totschläge ist im letzten Jahr gesunken.
  (The number of manslaughters decreased last year.)

🗣️ How is “Totschlag” used?

The term Totschlag is used almost exclusively in legal contexts or in reporting on crimes.

• Legal Language: In indictments (Anklageschriften), judgments (Urteilen), legal articles (juristischen Fachartikeln), referring to § 212 StGB.
• Media: In news reports about court proceedings or crimes involving intentional killing without the specific characteristics of Mord.
• Colloquial Speech: Rather rare and often imprecise. It's sometimes incorrectly used synonymously with Mord, which is legally incorrect. ⚠️ Avoid using it casually!

Distinction from Mord (Murder): This is the most crucial point. Mord (§ 211 StGB) requires specific aggravating factors (Mordmerkmale) that are absent in Totschlag. A Mörder (murderer) has acted for particularly reprehensible reasons, whereas in Totschlag, the killing is intentional but lacks these specific characteristics.

Distinction from Fahrlässige Tötung (Negligent Homicide): Here, the intent to kill is completely absent. The death occurs due to negligence (e.g., in an accident).

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

For the Article: Think of DER perpetrator (DER Täter) delivering DER blow (DER Schlag). Both masculine, like DER Totschlag.

For the Meaning: Imagine someone striking another person dead (tot) with a blow (Schlag) in the heat of the moment. It's Totschlag – not premeditated like murder, but still an intentional killing. Tot (dead) + Schlag (strike/blow) = killing by an (often impulsive) act.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Terms

• Mord (§ 211 StGB): (Murder) - Intentional killing with specific aggravating factors (e.g., greed, malice aforethought). More severe than Totschlag.
• Fahrlässige Tötung (§ 222 StGB): (Negligent homicide / Involuntary manslaughter) - Killing without intent, through negligence (e.g., an accident).
• Körperverletzung mit Todesfolge (§ 227 StGB): (Assault resulting in death) - Intentional assault where the victim dies, but without the perpetrator having the intent to kill.

😂 A Legal (Wordplay) Joke

Richter: „Angeklagter, warum haben Sie Revision eingelegt? Sie haben doch gestanden, Ihre Frau im Streit erschlagen zu haben!“
Angeklagter: „Ja, Herr Richter, aber mein Verteidiger meint, es war höchstens Totschlag, weil ich sie nicht vorsätzlich erschlagen habe. Ich wollte sie doch nur kurz zum Schweigen bringen!“

Judge: „Defendant, why did you appeal? You confessed to killing your wife with a blow during an argument!“
Defendant: „Yes, your Honor, but my lawyer says it was manslaughter (Totschlag) at most, because I didn't kill her *intentionally*. I just wanted to silence her for a moment!“

(Disclaimer: This joke uses dark humor common in legal jokes and is not intended to make light of the actual crime.)

📜 A Short Poem about Totschlag

Ein Zorn entbrannt, die Hand erhoben,
Ein Schlag, das Leben jäh zerstoben.
Kein Mordmerkmal, kein Plan so kalt,
Doch Schuld wiegt schwer, im Paragraphenwald.
Der Totschlag – eine Tat im Nu,
Lässt tiefe Wunden, keine Ruh.

A fury sparked, a hand was raised,
A blow, and life abruptly razed.
No murder trait, no plan so cold,
Yet guilt weighs heavy, story told
In statute books. Der Totschlag – done,
Leaves deepest wounds beneath the sun.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin im Gesetzbuch zu Haus,
§ 212, das macht mich aus.
Ich töte zwar mit Vorsatz, klar,
doch ohne Merkmal, sonderbar.
Bin schlimm, doch nicht das schlimmste Los,
was nennt man mich denn bloß?

I live inside the legal code,
Two-twelve my paragraph abode.
I kill with intent, it is true,
But lack the special traits, it's new.
I'm bad, but not the worst decree,
So tell me, what could I be?

Solution: Der Totschlag (Manslaughter)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word „Totschlag“ is a compound noun, formed from:

• Tod: (Death) - Refers to the result of the action.
• Schlag: (Strike, blow) - Refers to the (often sudden, violent) act itself, even though the killing doesn't necessarily have to occur via a literal blow.

Legal Basis:

The central provision is § 212 of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch - StGB):

§ 212 Totschlag

(1) Wer einen Menschen tötet, ohne Mörder zu sein, wird als Totschläger mit Freiheitsstrafe nicht unter fünf Jahren bestraft.
(Whoever kills a human being without being a murderer shall be liable to imprisonment of not less than five years as a perpetrator of manslaughter.)

(2) In besonders schweren Fällen ist auf lebenslange Freiheitsstrafe zu erkennen.
(In particularly serious cases, the sentence shall be imprisonment for life.)

This highlights the legal significance and severity of the offense.