German Word · Intermediate
strafen
to punish
Pronunciation: [ˈʃtʁaːfn̩]
Meaning
A word or expression meaning "to punish".
Example
Das Gefängnis, das heute in Deutschland nicht mehr strafen sondern bessern und erziehen soll, ist damit sozusagen zum Lazarett der bürgerlichen Ordnung avanciert.
The prison, which today in Germany is not supposed to punish anymore but to better and educate them, has thereby advanced to the military hospital of the bourgeois order
Practice tips
- Practice strafen out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this German word is for intermediate-level learners.