Totschlag

German

Etymology

From tot +‎ Schlag. Compare Dutch doodslag.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtoːtˌʃlaːk/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /ˈtoːtˌʃlax/, /-ˌʃlaːx/ (northern and central Germany; now chiefly colloquial)

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Totschlag m (strong, genitive Totschlages or Totschlags, no plural)

1. (law) manslaughter; second-degree murder; an unlawful killing of a person which is subject to a milder punishment than murder

Usage notes

• The specific definition of Totschlag is distinct from the understanding of “manslaughter” in the Anglophone world. It also varies somewhat between the respective German-speaking countries. Generally, however, Totschlag is an intentional killing that lacks certain aggravating properties. A typical case example of Totschlag is a killing in the heat of the moment.
• In informal contexts, Totschlag is often improperly distinguished from Mord (“murder”) or merged with it. Speakers are likely to use Mord for cases that do not legally qualify as murder.

Declension

Declension of Totschlag [sg-only, masculine, strong]

	singular
	indef.	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Totschlag
genitive	eines	des	Totschlages, Totschlags
dative	einem	dem	Totschlag, Totschlage1
accusative	einen	den	Totschlag

¹Now rare, see notes.

Synonyms

• Tötung; Bluttat (synonyms in non-technical use only)

Derived terms

• Totschläger
• totschlagen
• Mord und Totschlag

See also

• fahrlässige Tötung
• Kapitalverbrechen
• Körperverletzung mit Todesfolge
• Mord

Further reading

• “Totschlag” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Totschlag” in Duden online
• Totschlag on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de