erschießen

shoot dead

verb er-SHEE-sen Less Common

Origin: intensifying prefix 'er-' + 'schießen' (to shoot)

Usage Note

erschießen specifically means to kill by shooting, where the prefix er- signals a completed, fatal result, unlike plain schießen ('to shoot'). It is inseparable and strong, giving past tense erschoss and participle erschossen.

Examples

"Sie erschossen den Soldaten."

Natural Translation

They shot the soldier dead.

Literal Translation

They shot-dead the soldier.

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