die
Mordkommission
🕵️♀️ What does 'die Mordkommission' mean?
The German word die Mordkommission (often abbreviated as Moko) refers to a specialized department within the Kriminalpolizei (Criminal Investigation Department) in Germany and other German-speaking countries. Its primary task is the investigation of homicides, particularly Mord (murder) and Totschlag (manslaughter).
It's a noun that is always feminine. Therefore, the article is exclusively die.
- Meaning: Special police unit for investigating murder cases (Homicide Squad / Murder Investigation Unit).
🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Die Mordkommission
The word "Mordkommission" is a feminine noun. It is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mordkommission |
| Genitive | der | Mordkommission |
| Dative | der | Mordkommission |
| Accusative | die | Mordkommission |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mordkommissionen |
| Genitive | der | Mordkommissionen |
| Dative | den | Mordkommissionen |
| Accusative | die | Mordkommissionen |
Example Sentences
- Die Mordkommission übernahm sofort die Ermittlungen am Tatort.
(The homicide squad immediately took over the investigation at the crime scene.) - Der Leiter der Mordkommission gab eine Pressekonferenz.
(The head of the homicide squad gave a press conference.) - Die Zeugin machte ihre Aussage gegenüber der Mordkommission.
(The witness gave her statement to the homicide squad.) - Man informierte die Mordkommission über neue Hinweise.
(The homicide squad was informed about new leads.) - In Großstädten gibt es oft mehrere Mordkommissionen.
(In large cities, there are often multiple homicide squads.)
🌐 Usage in Context
The term "Mordkommission" is mainly used in the context of law enforcement, police work, and crime reporting.
- Police Jargon: Within the police force, "Moko" is a common abbreviation.
- Media: Newspapers, news reports, and crime films/series frequently use the term to name the responsible investigative unit.
- Official Language: In official documents and reports, the full term is used.
It's important to note that the exact structure and designation might vary slightly depending on the German federal state (Bundesland), but the term "Mordkommission" is universally understood.
💡 How to Remember 'die Mordkommission'
Article Aid: Think of die Polizei (the police) or die Ermittlung (the investigation) – both are feminine in German, just like die Kommission (the commission/committee). A commission is a group (feminine in German) that investigates.
Meaning Aid: Imagine a Kommission (a committee or group of experts) whose sole focus (Fokus) is Mord (murder). They come together to solve the case: the Mordkommission.
🔄 Synonyms & Related Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Kriminalpolizei (Kripo): General term for Criminal Investigation Department; the Mordkommission is part of it.
- Soko Mord: Sonderkommission Mord (Special Commission Murder), often set up temporarily for a specific case, whereas a Mordkommission is usually a permanent unit.
- Dezernat für Tötungsdelikte: (Department for Homicide Offences) - A more formal, official term.
Antonyms (Opposites):
There are no direct antonyms. Figuratively, one might think of concepts opposite to investigation or crime:
- Prävention (Prevention)
- Freispruch (Acquittal)
- Unschuld (Innocence)
⚠️ Watch Out for Confusion:
Sometimes "Kripo" is incorrectly used as a synonym, even though the Mordkommission is only one specialized department within the Kripo.
😄 A Little Joke
Richter: "Warum haben Sie den Mann erschossen?"
Angeklagter: "Er hat die Ergebnisse der Mordkommission gespoilert!"
Translation:
Judge: "Why did you shoot the man?"
Defendant: "He spoiled the results from the homicide squad!"
📜 A Short Poem
Wo Schatten lauern, tief und kalt,
Ein Ruf ertönt, die Spur noch alt.
Die Mordkommission, schnell vor Ort,
Bringt Licht ins Dunkel, Wort für Wort.
Mit Scharfsinn, Lupe, kühlem Blick,
Löst sie des Rätsels schweres Stück.
Translation:
Where shadows lurk, deep and cold,
A call rings out, the trail still old.
The homicide squad, quickly on site,
Brings light to darkness, word by word, insight.
With acumen, lens, a cool gaze,
It solves the riddle's heavy maze.
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich bin eine Gruppe, stets bereit,
Wenn jemand stirbt zur falschen Zeit.
Ich suche Spuren, frag' und forsche,
Bis ich den Täter dann erwische.
Ich arbeite meist im Geheimen,
Um Kapitalverbrechen aufzuklären bei den Reichen und den Armen.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I am a group, always ready,
When someone dies at the wrong time, unsteady.
I search for clues, ask and research deep,
Until the culprit I catch and keep.
I usually work in secret ways,
To solve capital crimes through nights and days, for rich and poor in all their phases.
Who am I?
Solution: die Mordkommission (the homicide squad)
📌 Additional Information
Word Composition:
The word "Mordkommission" is a compound noun, formed from:
- Mord: Refers to the crime of murder.
- Kommission: Refers to a commission or committee, a group of people assigned a specific task (here: investigation).
Trivia:
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mordkommission?
The German word "Mordkommission" is always feminine. The correct article is die Mordkommission. It refers to a specialized police unit responsible for investigating homicides (a homicide squad or murder investigation unit).