Skip to content

Haeftling

inmate

noun HEFT-ling Rare
People & Society Crime

Also means

detainee

Usage Note

Haeftling is an inmate held in Haft (custody, detention). The suffix -ling marks a person characterised by a state. It is more bureaucratic than Gefangener. Related terms include Untersuchungshaeftling (remand prisoner) and Strafgefangener (convicted inmate).

Examples

"Der Haeftling teilte sich die Zelle mit zwei anderen."

Natural Translation

The inmate shared the cell with two others.

Literal Translation

The inmate shared himself the cell with two others.

Explore German by topic