die
Vergewaltigung
📜 What does "die Vergewaltigung" mean?
Die Vergewaltigung (noun, feminine) means rape. It refers to forcing sexual acts upon a person against their will, often through the use of violence or threats. It is a serious crime and a traumatic experience for the victim.
There is only one article, "die", for this word because it is a feminine noun (identifiable by the ending -ung).
🚨 Important Note: This word describes a very serious and sensitive matter. Its use should always be considerate and respectful.
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.
Wisdom, power, rules → mostly feminine.
📚 Grammar in Detail: Die Vergewaltigung
The noun "Vergewaltigung" is feminine. The declension follows the pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ung.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Vergewaltigung |
| Genitive | der | Vergewaltigung |
| Dative | der | Vergewaltigung |
| Accusative | die | Vergewaltigung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Vergewaltigungen |
| Genitive | der | Vergewaltigungen |
| Dative | den | Vergewaltigungen |
| Accusative | die | Vergewaltigungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Polizei ermittelt wegen des Verdachts der Vergewaltigung. (The police are investigating on suspicion of rape.)
- Opfer von Vergewaltigungen benötigen dringend psychologische Unterstützung. (Victims of rape urgently need psychological support.)
- Das Gesetz stellt Vergewaltigung unter Strafe. (The law penalizes rape.)
🗣️ How is "Vergewaltigung" used?
"Vergewaltigung" is primarily used in legal, medical, psychological, and journalistic contexts to describe a specific criminal offense.
- Legal: Description of the criminal offense according to the penal code (Strafgesetzbuch).
- Medical/Psychological: Description of the trauma and consequences for the victim.
- Journalistic: Reporting on relevant cases (often with trigger warnings).
- Everyday Language: Due to the gravity of the topic, the word is mostly avoided in casual conversation or used only in very serious contexts.
⚠️ Caution: The word has extremely negative connotations and describes a violent, traumatizing act. It should never be used lightly or in a trivializing manner.
Related, but not identical terms, include "sexueller Übergriff" (sexual assault) or "sexuelle Nötigung" (sexual coercion), which, depending on legislation, may describe different degrees of sexual violence.
🧠 Mnemonics
- Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine → die Vergewaltigung. Think of other -ung words like "die Handlung" (the action), "die Prüfung" (the exam) – they are feminine.
- Meaning Mnemonic: The word contains "Gewalt" (violence). It describes an act forced upon someone using Gewalt (violence) or the threat of it. Imagine something being violently done to someone against their will.
🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms
Direct synonyms are difficult as "Vergewaltigung" is a specific legal term.
Similar or related terms (depending on context and severity):
- Sexueller Übergriff: Sexual assault; broader term that can include other forms of sexual violence.
- Sexuelle Nötigung: Sexual coercion; a legal term often used synonymously or representing a distinct offense (depending on jurisdiction).
- Missbrauch: Abuse; can include sexual violence but also other forms (emotional, physical).
Terms with opposite meaning (contextual):
- Einvernehmlichkeit / Konsens: Consent to sexual acts.
- Freiwilligkeit: Voluntariness; acting without coercion.
⚠️ These terms are not direct antonyms in a grammatical sense, but describe the opposite of a forced action.
😂 A Joke?
Due to the extremely sensitive and severe nature of the topic "Vergewaltigung" (rape), it is inappropriate to make jokes about it. Humor has no place here and can be very hurtful to survivors.
🎶 Poem or Rap
Poems or raps about "Vergewaltigung" (rape) are inappropriate due to the sensitivity of the topic. Creative expressions should treat this serious subject with utmost respect and avoid trivialization.
🧩 Riddle
A riddle about this topic would be inappropriate and disrespectful to victims and the gravity of the act.
💡 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Vergewaltigung" is derived from the verb "vergewaltigen". This is composed of:
- Prefix "ver-": often intensifying or indicating a negative change.
- Stem "gewaltig-": related to "Gewalt" (violence).
- Suffix "-igen": used to form verbs.
- The noun is formed by adding "-ung", which is typical for nominalizing verbs and creates feminine nouns.
Societal Significance:
Addressing the topic of rape (Vergewaltigung) is a crucial part of societal discourse on violence, gender justice, and victim protection. Campaigns like "Nein heißt Nein" (No means No) aim to raise awareness about consent.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Vergewaltigung?
The word "Vergewaltigung" is always feminine. The correct article is die: die Vergewaltigung (the rape), der Vergewaltigung (of the rape), die Vergewaltigungen (the rapes).