die  Hinrichtung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈhɪnʁɪçtʊŋ/

⚖️ What does 'die Hinrichtung' mean?

The German word die Hinrichtung (feminine, article 'die') refers to the execution, specifically the carrying out of a death sentence. It signifies the killing of a person as punishment for a crime, based on a legal judgment. The term carries strong historical and legal connotations and is often linked to debates about ethics and human rights.

🚨 There's only this one, very specific meaning for 'Hinrichtung'. Confusion is unlikely, but due to its gravity, the term should only be used in the appropriate context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar and Declension of 'Hinrichtung'

'Hinrichtung' is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:

Example Sentences

1. Die letzte öffentliche Hinrichtung in diesem Land fand vor über hundert Jahren statt.
   (The last public execution in this country took place over a hundred years ago.)
2. Die Menschenrechtsorganisation kämpft gegen die Hinrichtung von Gefangenen weltweit.
   (The human rights organization fights against the execution of prisoners worldwide.)
3. Historische Berichte beschreiben grausame Methoden der Hinrichtung.
   (Historical reports describe cruel methods of execution.)
4. Nach langem Prozess wurde das Todesurteil gefällt, die Hinrichtung folgte wenige Monate später.
   (After a long trial, the death sentence was passed; the execution followed a few months later.)

🤔 Usage in Context

The term 'Hinrichtung' is used almost exclusively in legal, historical, or ethical/philosophical contexts. It describes state-sanctioned killing as punishment.

• Legal/Historical: Describing death penalties in the past or in countries where they still exist.
• Ethical/Political: In debates about the abolition or retention of the death penalty.

⚠️ The term has very negative connotations and should be used carefully. It is not interchangeable with more general terms for killing like 'Mord' (murder) or 'Totschlag' (manslaughter), as it implies state legitimacy (within the framework of a sentence).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Hinrichtung'

Article 'die': Think of the typical feminine ending '-ung'. Most nouns ending in '-ung' in German are feminine, taking the article 'die'. So, die Beendigung (the termination), die Rüstung (the armor), die Richtung (the direction), and thus 'die Hinrichtung'.

Meaning: Break it down: 'hin' often indicates movement towards something or away, and 'Richtung' means direction. 'Richten' can mean 'to judge' or 'to execute (a sentence)'. So, 'Hinrichtung' is like the 'final direction' given by a judge, the act of 'directing someone towards' their end based on a judgment.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but distinct terms: Mord (murder), Totschlag (manslaughter - these are crimes, not state-sanctioned punishments), Selbstmord (suicide).

😄 A (Dark) Joke?

Warum wurde der Henker arbeitslos? Weil alle Verbrecher begnadigt wurden und er plötzlich keinen mehr *richten* konnte! 🥁
(Why did the executioner become unemployed? Because all the criminals were pardoned, and suddenly he couldn't 'judge/execute' anyone anymore! 🥁)

(Note: Jokes about this topic are difficult and often inappropriate. This one is kept harmless.)

📜 Poem on Finality

Letzter Gang, ein schwerer Schritt,
Das Urteil gesprochen, kein Zurück.
Die Menge schweigt, der Himmel grau,
Die Hinrichtung, ein letzter Schau.
Ein Moment, dann Stille nur,
Verloren jede Lebensspur.

(Final walk, a heavy step,
The sentence passed, no turning back.
The crowd falls silent, the sky is grey,
The execution, a final display.
A moment, then only silence deep,
Lost forever, life's trace to keep.)

❓ Riddle

Ich bin ein Akt, vom Staat bestimmt,
der einem Leben das Ende nimmt.
Gesetzlich zwar, doch sehr umstritten,
durch mich wird oft schwer gelitten.
Mein Name klingt nach Richtung, klar,
doch führt mein Weg nur zur Totenbahr'.

Was bin ich?
(I am an act, determined by the state,
that brings a life to its end, its fate.
Legal perhaps, but much debated,
through me, much suffering is created.
My name sounds like direction, true,
but my path leads only to the bier for you.)

(Answer: die Hinrichtung / the execution)

ℹ️ Other Information

Word Composition: The word is composed of the preposition/adverb 'hin' (indicating direction) and the verb 'richten' (here meaning 'to execute a sentence', compare 'jemanden richten' - 'to judge/execute someone').

Historical Context: Executions were public spectacles and a common form of punishment for centuries. In Germany, the death penalty was abolished with the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) in 1949 (Article 102 GG: "Die Todesstrafe ist abgeschafft." - "The death penalty is abolished."). However, it is still practiced in some countries worldwide.