Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tod | /toːt/ | masculine |
| Exitus | /ˈɛksitʊs/ | masculine |
Tod is a masculine noun referring to the cessation of life. It is frequently used alongside the verb sterben (to die).
Which one should you use?
While Tod refers to the concept of death, Sensenmann refers specifically to the personification of death, known in English as the Grim Reaper. When referring to the personification of death, you may also use Gevatter Tod.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Exitus is a masculine form used to denote death. For a softer way to describe the act of dying, you can use Ableben, which is more common in everyday conversation than in official contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of Tod is des Todes, used to express 'of death'.
How do you pronounce it?
/toːt/
When do people say it?
In German, the personification of death can be addressed as Gevatter Tod, an archaic and literary term similar to 'Brother Death' or 'Old Man Death'.
Did you know?
- The phrase Gevatter Tod uses Gevatter, an old word for a godfather, treating death as a familiar family member or companion.
- If you are reading a medical report in German, you might see the word Exitus used to indicate a patient has passed away.
- English 'death' and German Tod share a common ancestor in the Proto-Germanic word *dauþuz.
Examples in context
- Er fürchtet den Tod.He is afraid of death.This sentence shows how to use Tod to express being afraid of death.Tatoeba #1579315 by Esperantostern, translation #297216 by CK
- Der Tod macht Angst.Death is scary.This sentence illustrates using Tod to describe death as scary.Tatoeba #8198006 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8197965 by Hybrid
- Tom rächte Marys Tod.Tom avenged Mary's death.This sentence demonstrates the use of Tod when discussing avenging a death.Tatoeba #1419038 by Zaghawa, translation #1419025 by Spamster
- Der Tod meines Großvaters war sehr traurig.The death of my grandfather was very sad.
- Viele Menschen sterben an Krebs.Many people die from cancer.
- Er ist friedlich hingegangen.He peacefully passed away.
- Das alte Auto ist endlich verreckt.The old car finally kicked the bucket.
- Mein herzliches BeileidMy heartfelt condolences
- Ich spreche mein tiefes Mitgefühl ausI express my deep sympathy
- An was ist er/sie gestorben?What did he/she die of?
- Der Traum ist gestorbenThe dream has died
- Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletztHope dies last
- 624 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are talking about a philosophy book.
- JulianWas denkst du über den Tod?What do you think about death?
- LauraIch finde das Thema sehr schwer.I find the topic very difficult.
- JulianDas Buch beschreibt den Tod als Neuanfang.The book describes death as a new beginning.
- LauraDas ist eine schöne Sichtweise, Julian.That is a beautiful perspective, Julian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “death” translations and entries Tod, Exitus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Exitus, Tod, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
