From crime thrillers to legal news, murder in German is a word you’ll hear in films, books, and sometimes the headlines. It’s also used in strong expressions of emotion — sometimes even metaphorically.
The German word for murder is der Mord, and the plural is die Morde. It’s a masculine noun, and if you're still getting a feel for article rules, check out my gender video lesson for a simple, effective breakdown.
Mord appears on the list of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German — thanks in part to the popularity of Krimis (crime stories) and courtroom dramas in German-speaking culture.
Here’s how it appears in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Mord war ungeklärt.
The murder was unsolved.
Accusative:
Er gesteht den Mord.
He confesses to the murder.
Dative:
Die Polizei widmet sich dem Mord.
The police is working on the murder case.
Genitive:
Die Details des Mordes sind schockierend.
The details of the murder are shocking.
The verb that naturally pairs with Mord is begehen (to commit):
einen Mord begehen — to commit a murder
versuchter Mord — attempted murder
Mord aus Eifersucht — murder out of jealousy
Adjectives include brutal, kaltblütig (cold-blooded), geplant (premeditated), or rätselhaft (mysterious).
In literature or everyday speech, it can also show up in expressions like Es war ein Mordsspaß! (“It was a killer amount of fun!” — exaggerated, not literal).
Beginner dialogue with the word in context:
A: Was liest du da?
B: Einen Roman über einen Mord in Berlin.
A: What are you reading?
B: A novel about a murder in Berlin.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it out loud using Mord or Morde in your sentence.
“Kennst du eine Geschichte, in der ein Mord vorkommt — und was passiert danach?”
Do you know a story that involves a murder — and what happens afterward?
You don’t have to say much — just enough to make the word stick in your mind.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say murder in German and how der Mord is used in serious contexts, gripping stories, and even expressive language. It’s a heavy word, but one that shows up frequently in media and culture.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep building your vocabulary in meaningful, real-life ways.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Review Mittagessen — and master the vocabulary of food, meals, and routine.
Or check out Netz — and explore how to talk about internet, sports, and connections.