Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| töten | /ˈtøːtən/ |
| umbringen | /ˈʔʊmˌbʁɪŋən/ |
| erschlagen | /ɛɐ̯ˈʃlaːɡn̩/ |
The German language offers several ways to express the act of killing or slaying, depending on whether you mean a general cause of death, a murderous intent or a specific method of killing.
Which one should you use?
töten is the most neutral and general way to say 'to kill' or 'to cause death'. In contrast, umbringen is more common in colloquial speech and often implies a more direct, intentional act of murder. Finally, erschlagen is used specifically when the act of slaying involves killing someone by striking them with a heavy or blunt object, such as a club or a heavy tool.
How does it change in a sentence?
umbringen is a separable verb. In a simple present tense sentence, the prefix um moves to the end of the clause. erschlagen is a strong verb, meaning its past tense forms involve a change in the stem vowel, such as er schlug.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtøːtən/
Did you know?
- The verb erschlagen can also be used figuratively to describe being overwhelmed, such as being 'slain' by a massive amount of work.
- The phrase sich umbringen is the common German way to describe the act of suicide.
- The verb töten shares a common ancestor with the English word 'dead' through the Proto-West Germanic root for death.
Examples in context
- Du hast bei der Präsentation herausragend performt!You performed exceptionally in the presentation!
- Du siehst heute mega gut aus!You look awesome today!
- Du gehst heute echt ab wie Schmitz' Katze!You're absolutely killing it today!
- Der Löwe kann Beute töten.The lion can kill prey.
- Ein Gift kann das Tier töten.A poison can kill the animal.
- Die Kälte wird die Pflanzen töten.The cold will kill the plants.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are talking about a pest control problem in their garden.
- MaximilianDiese Käfer könnten die Blumen töten.These beetles could kill the flowers.
- JuliaWir müssen sie sofort bekämpfen.We must fight them immediately.
- MaximilianKann man sie mit Spritzmitteln töten?Can one kill them with pesticides?
- JuliaDas ist oft zu schädlich.That is often too harmful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slay” translations and entries töten, umbringen, erschlagen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries erschlagen, töten, umbringen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
