Gaskammer
feminine
The English phrase "gas chamber" is translated into German as Gaskammer. Wiktionary also lists Vergasungskeller.
Meaning: a sealed chamber in which people are executed with gas (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Gaskammer | feminine |
| Vergasungskeller | masculine |
This noun refers to a sealed chamber in which people are executed with gas.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Gaskammer is composed of two parts: Gas, which means gas and Kammer, which means chamber or room.
Which one should you use?
While Gaskammer is the standard term, Vergasungskeller specifically refers to a cellar used for gasification, often used in historical contexts regarding Nazi death camps.
Did you know?
- The term Vergasungskeller uses the word Keller, which in German culture is primarily associated with the cozy storage of wine or preserves in a family home.
- The word Gas in German is an imported term, originally coined by the 17th-century Dutch chemist Jan Baptista van Helmont.
- In the compound Vergasungskeller, the prefix ver- can signal a process of total transformation or complete destruction.
Examples in context
- Erinnerst du dich daran, als wir die Gräueltaten des Holocaust studiert haben, insbesondere den Einsatz von Gaskammern?Do you remember when we studied the atrocities of the Holocaust, particularly the use of gas chambers?
- Die Gaskammer war Teil des Lagers.The gas chamber was part of the camp.
- Historiker untersuchten die Gaskammer.Historians examined the gas chamber.
- Man findet Informationen über die Gaskammer.One finds information about the gas chamber.
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are visiting a historical museum.
- LauraSiehst du die Gaskammer dort drüben?Do you see the gas chamber over there?
- JulianJa, ich sehe sie.Yes, I see it.
- LauraEs ist ein sehr trauriger Ort.It is a very sad place.
- JulianDas stimmt, Laura.That's true, Laura.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gas chamber” translations and entries Gaskammer, Vergasungskeller, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gaskammer, Vergasungskeller, CC BY-SA 4.0.
