Beileid
/ˈbaɪ̯laɪ̯t/
The German word for condolence is Beileid.
Beileid refers to the sympathy or compassion felt when someone has died. A standard, short way to express your sympathy to someone who is grieving is to say mein Beileid (my condolences).
Meaning: sympathy when someone has died (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Beileid is a compound of bei (with/near) and Leid (suffering/sorrow).
Which one should you use?
While Beileid is the standard term, Beileidsbekundung is used as a more formal, technical term for the actual act of offering condolences.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you are writing a card and want to use a more formal and sophisticated way to express condolences, you can use aufrichtige Anteilnahme (sincere sympathy).
How does it change in a sentence?
Beileid is a neuter noun and is most commonly used in the singular form when expressing sympathy.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbaɪ̯laɪ̯t/
Did you know?
- German distinguishes between Beileid (sympathy for a loss) and Mitleid (pity), and using Mitleid in a funeral context can accidentally sound condescending.
- In Germany, it is common to send a Trauerkarte (mourning card) with a black border, as a handwritten note is often considered more respectful than a digital message when offering Beileid.
- The phrase aufrichtige Anteilnahme uses the word Anteil, which literally means 'a share' or 'a part', suggesting you are sharing in the person's suffering.
Examples in context
- Mein herzliches Beileid!My heartfelt condolences!
- Ich möchte Ihnen mein tiefes Mitgefühl ausdrücken.I would like to express my deep sympathy.
- In dieser schweren Zeit sind meine Gedanken bei Ihnen.In this difficult time, my thoughts are with you.
- Es tut mir so leid für dich.I'm so sorry for you.
- Ich bin in Gedanken bei dir.I'm thinking of you.
- Wir möchten dir unser Beileid aussprechen.We would like to express our condolences to you.
- Er sprach ihr sein aufrichtiges Beileid aus.He expressed his sincere condolences to her.
Example conversation
Lukas visits Sarah at her home after a loss.
- LukasLiebe Sarah, mein herzliches Beileid.Dear Sarah, my sincere condolences.
- SarahVielen Dank, Lukas.Thank you very much, Lukas.
- LukasIch wünsche dir viel Kraft.I wish you much strength.
- SarahDas ist sehr lieb von dir.That is very kind of you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Beileid, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
