die
Brandstiftung
🔥 What does 'die Brandstiftung' mean?
Die Brandstiftung is a feminine noun in German that means arson. It specifically refers to the intentional and unlawful act of setting fire to property belonging to others, forests, or other objects.
It is a serious crime regulated in the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB) under sections §§ 306 ff. The core meaning involves someone deliberately starting a fire to cause damage or for other malicious reasons. 🚨 It's important to distinguish this from an accidentally caused fire (e.g., through negligence - Fahrlässigkeit).
Like most German nouns ending in -ung, 'Brandstiftung' is feminine, hence the article 'die'.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar & Declension: 'Die Brandstiftung' in Detail
The noun 'Brandstiftung' is feminine. Its plural form ('die Brandstiftungen') is rarely used because arson often refers to individual acts, but it does exist grammatically.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Brandstiftung |
| Genitive | der | Brandstiftung |
| Dative | der | Brandstiftung |
| Accusative | die | Brandstiftung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Brandstiftungen |
| Genitive | der | Brandstiftungen |
| Dative | den | Brandstiftungen |
| Accusative | die | Brandstiftungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Verdächtige wurde wegen Brandstiftung angeklagt.
(The suspect was charged with arson.) - Die Ermittlungen ergaben, dass es sich eindeutig um Brandstiftung handelte.
(The investigations revealed that it was clearly arson.) - Aufgrund mehrerer Brandstiftungen in der Gegend war die Polizei alarmiert.
(Due to several acts of arson in the area, the police were alerted.) - Der Schaden durch die Brandstiftung war immens.
(The damage caused by the arson was immense.)
🗣️ Contextual Usage
The term 'die Brandstiftung' is almost exclusively used in legal or police contexts, as well as in news reporting about crime.
- Legal Context: Found in indictments (Anklageschriften), judgments (Urteilen), and legal texts (§§ 306 ff. StGB).
- News Reports: Used when reporting on fires where intent (Vorsatz) is suspected.
- Insurance: In connection with claims processing for intentionally set fires.
It's crucial to differentiate 'Brandstiftung' (intentional arson) from 'Brand' (a fire in general, could be accidental) or 'Feuer' (the element fire itself). 'Fahrlässige Brandstiftung' (negligent arson) is also a specific legal term for unintentionally but culpably causing a fire.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German. Think of die Meinung (opinion), die Zeitung (newspaper)... and therefore also die Brandstiftung!
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of "founding a fire". The word contains 'Brand' (fire, blaze) and 'Stiftung' (foundation, establishment). Imagine someone maliciously 'founding' or 'establishing' a fire – that's Brandstiftung (arson).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Feuerlegung (setting a fire, implies intent)
- Inbrandsetzung (setting ablaze, rather formal, implies intent)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Brandbekämpfung / Feuerbekämpfung (firefighting)
- Brandverhütung / Brandschutz (fire prevention)
- Löschung (extinguishing the fire)
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse 'Brandstiftung' with 'Brand' (fire incident) or 'Feuer' (fire element).
😂 A (Harmless) Joke
Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie denn das Haus angezündet?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Herr Richter, es war doch schon alt und morsches Holz brennt einfach am besten!"
Translation:
The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you set the house on fire?"
The defendant replies: "Your Honor, it was old anyway, and rotten wood simply burns the best!"
(Please note: Arson is a serious crime!)
✒️ Poem about Arson
Ein Funke Hass, ein Zünder klein,
soll dieses Haus dem Feuer weihn.
Die Flamme züngelt, leckt und frisst,
was mühsam aufgebaut einst ist.
Die Brandstiftung, ein dunkler Akt,
der Leben nimmt, was schlafend lag.
Zurück bleibt Asche, Schmerz und Not,
ein Mahnmal für des Täters Spott.
Translation:
A spark of hate, a trigger small,
Shall doom this house to fire's thrall.
The flame licks, flickers, eats away,
What once was built in painstaking way.
Arson ('die Brandstiftung'), a dark deed done,
Takes life that slumbered in the sun.
What's left is ash, pain, misery,
A monument to the culprit's mockery.
❓ Riddle
Ich werde gelegt, doch bin kein Ei.
Ich bringe Hitze und Geschrei.
Ich bin verboten, strafbar schwer,
zerstöre Hab und Gut und mehr.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I am laid, but I'm not an egg.
I bring heat and cries, I beg.
I am forbidden, punishable crime,
Destroying goods and more through time.
What am I?
Solution: die Brandstiftung (arson)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
'Brandstiftung' is a compound noun formed from:
- Brand (noun): the fire that destroys something.
- Stiftung (noun, from 'stiften' - to found, establish, cause): here used in the sense of 'causing' or 'initiating'.
Legal Context:
In Germany, arson (Brandstiftung) is a felony (Verbrechen) and is punished with imprisonment, depending on the severity (simple arson, aggravated arson, particularly aggravated arson, arson resulting in death) according to §§ 306-306f of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch - StGB).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Brandstiftung?
The word 'Brandstiftung' is a feminine noun. The correct article is always die: die Brandstiftung.