Kriegsgefangener

prisoner of war, POW

noun KREEKS-geh-fah-geh-ner Rare

Usage Note

Kriegsgefangener (Kgf.) designates a combatant captured and held by enemy forces under the rules of war. Their treatment is governed by the Genfer Konventionen (Geneva Conventions). As an adjective-noun, it declines: des Kriegsgefangenen.

Examples

"Der Kriegsgefangene wurde nach dem Waffenstillstand freigelassen."

Natural Translation

The prisoner of war was released after the armistice.

Literal Translation

The prisoner-of-war was after the armistice released.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Body Parts: Vocabulary + How to Say It Hurts

Learn German body parts with der/die/das and plurals, plus the two ways to say something hurts: Mir tut der Kopf weh and Ich habe Kopfschmerzen.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Adjective Endings Made Simple

German adjective endings come down to one question, not three tables: does the article already show gender and case? If yes, the adjective stays lazy.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Du vs. Sie: When to Use Each in German

Use Sie with strangers, elders, and at work; use du with friends, family, kids, and peers. Here's how to pick the right German you every time.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Separable Verbs: When the Prefix Splits

German separable verbs split in two: the verb stays near the front and the prefix flies to the end. Learn the stress test and where every piece goes.

June 5, 2026 5 min read