Vandalismus

vandalism

noun van-da-LIS-mus Rare

Origin: from the Vandals, a Germanic tribe

Usage Note

Vandalismus is the deliberate destruction of property; legally it falls under Sachbeschädigung (§ 303 StGB). The term is used in public debate about youth crime, football violence, and urban graffiti.

Examples

"Nach dem Spiel kam es zu Vandalismus in der Innenstadt."

Natural Translation

After the match there was vandalism in the city centre.

Literal Translation

After the match came it to vandalism in the inner-city.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Compound Words: How to Read Any Long Word

Read any long German word by working right-to-left: the last noun sets the meaning and gender, and the small linking letters are just glue. Here's the drill.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Greetings by Region: Grüß Gott to Grüezi

German greetings change by region: say Moin in Hamburg, Grüß Gott in Bavaria, Grüezi in Switzerland. A map of every hello and goodbye, plus du vs. Sie.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Days, Months & Seasons (am, im & -tag)

Days of the week in German use am, months and seasons use im — plus the -tag pattern, capitalized nouns, and how to build a real sentence with a day.

June 5, 2026 4 min read

GermanNow

Tipping in Germany: A Visitor's Etiquette Guide

Tipping in Germany means saying your total out loud, not leaving coins. Learn the exact phrases, how much to tip, and the Sie-vs-du etiquette travelers need.

June 5, 2026 6 min read